Tag Archives: Minister for Primary Industries

Nathan Guy new Primary Industries Minister

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Nathan GuyNathan Guy has been appointed as the new Primary Industries Minister as a result of the Prime Minister’s re-shuffle of Cabinet today.

David Carter, the current Minister for Primary Industries, will be the Government’s nominee for Speaker of the House following the departure of Dr Lockwood Smith.

The Prime Minister, John Key, took the opportunity presented by the change of speaker to look at the Cabinet line-up as a whole, “in the context of the Government’s priorities,” he said.

Primary Industries changes

Former farm manager, Nathan Guy, MP for Otaki, is the current Associate MiJo Goodhewnister for Primary Industries and was widely tipped as a favourite for the position. The 43 year old is a Massey University agriculture graduate who has also undertaken a number of study scholarships including a Kelloggs Rural Leadership course, a Winston Churchill Fellowship to the US and has also won a number of farming awards. From the meat industry perspective he is a former member of the Meat Research Advisory Committee and a former chairperson of Central Districts and Wairarapa’s New Zealand Beef Council, for which he was also deputy chairperson.  Jo Goodhew, member for Rangitata and a former nurse, will assist Guy in the Associate Minister position.

Food Safety

Nikki KayeFormer Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson will leave cabinet and will be replaced by 33 year old Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye. Kaye will take up the portfolios for Food Safety, Youth Affairs and Civil Defence. She will also be Associate Education Minister, reflecting her work as chair of the education select committee.

Other

Dr Nick Smith will return to Cabinet in the Housing and Conservation portfolios and Chris Tremain is to be appointed to Local Government.

The changes will take effect on 31 January, when the Governor-General appoints the new Ministers and all the necessary paperwork will have been completed.

“The refreshed Ministerial team is ready to continue the Government’s focus on is four key priorities for this term  – responsibly managing the Government’s finances, building a more competitive and productive economy, delivering better public services within fiscal restraints and supporting the rebuilding of Christchurch,” says Key.

Biosecurity reform bill passes into law

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The most significant changes to the Biosecurity Act in 15 years were brought into place this week, when the Biosecurity Law Reform bill passed into law.

The bill makes a wide range of amendments to the Act, along with related amendments to four other Acts.

“New Zealand has a highly effective biosecurity system which is recognised as world-leading, but the legislation has not kept pace with the way the system has had to evolve to meet ever-growing challenges,” says Primary Industries Minister David Carter.

“The amended Act covers the areas of border security, biosecurity, joint decision-making on newly detected harmful organisms and on-going management of established pests. the reforms will enable better use of information to target risks and encouage partnerships in the management of potential biosecurity incursions.”

A key plank of the reforms is the development of government-industry agreements on preparing for, and responding to, newly detected pests and diseases and for sharing the costs of jointly-agreed activities, the Minister says.

“Protecting New Zealand from biosecurity risks cannot be the role of government alone,” says Carter. “Industry expertise needs to be brought to the decision-making table to help improve prioritisation and our preparedness to respond to incursions.”