Damien O'connor
Minister O'Connor on Russian trade sanctions
The Government is imposing new trade sanctions against Russia, in what it says is its most significant economic response against the Ukraine invasion to date. The Government will apply 35 percent… Audio
Midday Rural News for 31 March 2022
News from the rural and farming sector: the agriculture minister Damien O'Connor tells Sally Murphy why he's declared a drought for the entire Southland region. Audio
No need to move Westport, sea wall funding on way - O'Connor
Westport has had two evacuations in a week, less than a year after devastating floods in July 2021.
It raises the question of whether the West Coast town has a future in the face of climate change.
… Video, Audio
Clean up continues in Ashburton four months after flood
It's been four months since the Ashburton district was slammed with a one in two hundred year flood and still the clean up continues.
With most of the $4 million in government help now accounted for… Audio
Minister Damien O'Connor has update on flood damage
The Agriculture Minister and MP for West-Coast Tasman, Damien O'Connor, has been visiting the flood-ravaged region.
He spoke to Max Towle. Audio
Emergency relief funds announced
The Government is committing six hundred thousand dollars in emergency relief to the districts of Buller and Marlborough to help deal with the flooding.
The announcement came after Acting Minister… Audio
Agricultural workers, vets allowed into NZ to ease pressures
The government is giving 200 dairy workers and 50 veterinarians permission to enter New Zealand. The Agriculture Minister, Damien O'Connor, made the announcement this morning due to pressures on the… Audio
Canterbury flooding: Agriculture minister in town to assess damage
The Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor are in mid-Canterbury to survey the damage from three days of torrential rain.
The Government has made an initial contribution of… Audio
Biosecurity Minister on Kauri dieback plan
New Zealand's National Pest Management Plan for kauri dieback is incomplete, 3.5 years after government departments started working on it.
Budget 2021 allocated $28 million towards the plan.
But… Audio
Live exports ban decision due to animal welfare - Damien O'Connor
The government's decision to phase out livestock exports by sea has been met with despair by some in the agricultural industry.
There are fears the ban, which has a two-year transition period, will… Audio
Ending live exports assuring ethical treatment of animals - Agriculture Minister
The clock is ticking on the live animal exports, with the government announcing a two-year phase out period.
It's scrapping the industry, it says, to uphold New Zealand's reputation for high… Video, Audio
O'Connor under fire for 'cocky' tourism sector comment
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor is under fire for saying Covid-19 has taught the tourism industry not to be so cocky after losing its spot as the top export earner to dairy.
He made the comments… Audio
China spat, WA Covid outbreak, cricket cancelled
Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn with the latest on Australia's spat with China, and how PM Scott Morrison took a gentle swipe at NZ's Trade Minister Damien O'Connor for weighing… Audio
NZ Dairy industry unhappy with Brexit
The dairy industry wants export tariffs scrapped as it tries to get the best bang for its buck overseas - and doesn't think the new post Brexit trade deal will help. New Zealand is in the throes of… Audio
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor on hailstorm and Brexit
Farmers and growers are counting the cost - thought to be in the tens of millions of dollars - of the Boxing Day freak hail storm in Tasman. A cloudburst shredded vineyards, smashing greenhouses… Audio
