Ian McKelvie: Evidence agri sector working in unison

THERE is no doubt that the level of engagement, activity and awareness in the agricultural sector has lifted a few notches over the past three years.

There is seldom a day goes past in Wellington when there is not an opportunity to attend a function or event organised by one sector or another.

As chairperson of the Primary Production Committee, this is especially encouraging for me and I am particularly optimistic about the closer working relationship across the industry from food and beverage companies to processors and retailers and even banks and insurance companies.

Last week was a good example.

On Monday, the ANZ Bank held an event showcasing the success of the food and beverage sector and highlighting growth trends for the future.

Dairy NZ hosted a function also, to promote their pathway over the next few years.

It was attended by most of the leaders in the primary sector.

It is reassuring to see the industry is in good heart despite the current price challenges.

I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Nicola Shadbolt who was re-elected to the Fonterra board this week.

She was first elected in 2009 and serves on the Audit and Finance Committee.

Shadbolt is a Professor of Farm and Agribusiness Management at Massey University, director of the Centre of Excellence in Farm Business Management, a director of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, and represents New Zealand in the International Farm Comparison Network in dairying.

She and her husband live in the Pohangina Valley in the Manawatu, which is the base for the five farming and forestry equity partnerships they run, including two dairy farms.

She is certainly an asset to our region and to the agricultural sector.

Parliament was in urgency last week to pass the Returning Offenders Bill, which is the legislation related to the Australian Government's decision to send home a number of people convicted of various crimes in Australia and who have no other citizenship but New Zealand.

While this has always been the case to some extent, there are now many more returning as a result of a recent change of policy across the Tasman.

The Government is also taking the opportunity to pass two other pieces of legislation while under urgency - the Social Security Amendment Bill and a further Local Government Amendment Bill.

This Bill amends the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010. The purpose of the amendment is to provide more flexibility for the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel, to help ensure that it can deliver its recommendations on the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan to the Auckland Council by the statutory deadline of July 22, 2016.

One last thing - Jonah Lomu's death came as a huge shock.

He was a truly outstanding New Zealander, both on and off the rugby field.

-Ian McKelvie is the MP for Rangitikei.