These encounters have highlighted the many positive things and people that are helping our district get great forward momentum.
From a breakfast meeting with the Central Otago Business Group Elevate, to a visit at Hawkeswood Mine at Millers Flat and a catch-up with the Hato Hone St John team in Cromwell, there is plenty happening and so many great people adding to our community.
The biggest news out of the Beehive recently has been completing the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a once-in-a-generation step forward
for New Zealand exporters into a market of 1.4 billion people.
This is important news for Central Otago as the FTA will deliver significant gains for exporters, cutting or eliminating tariffs on 95% of our exports.
This is great news for our fruit, wine and meat industries which are so abundant here in Central.
From day one, more than half of New Zealand exports to India will be duty-free, rising to 82% when fully implemented — creating growth and jobs at home.
The FTA will provide New Zealanders preferential access to an economy forecast to grow to $US7 trillion ($NZ12t) and a middle class expected to number over 700 million, by 2030.
New Zealand is the first country to secure preferential access for apples in any Indian FTA.
The same goes for honey, with a 75% reduction in honey tariffs over five years.
Sheep meat and wool gain immediate duty-free access, improving returns for farmers from day one.
Horticulture benefits include a 50% tariff cut for apples on a large quota — almost double recent exports and tariff elimination over time for cherries, avocados, blueberries and persimmons.
For food and dairy, bulk infant formula and high-value dairy preparations gain duty-free access over seven years.
Food ingredients for re-export become duty-free from day one and milk albumins receive a 50% tariff cut within a New Zealand-specific quota equal to current exports.
Wine tariffs fall dramatically, from 150% to as low as 25% over time.
When this government came to power, we set a goal of doubling the value of New Zealand’s exports within a decade.
This FTA and others we have secured go a long way to realising our aspirational goals.
Another major policy to benefit Central Otago is the announcement of rule changes freeing up high-country farmers to make the most of their land to unlock economic opportunities, support job creation and strengthen regional economies.
The government will introduce a Bill that will give Crown pastoral land leaseholders more flexibility to expand and diversify.
Changes will allow a wider range of complementary activities alongside pastoral farming, including growing crops and horticulture, running small farm shops, hospitality ventures
and renewable energy projects.
Adding activities like beekeeping alongside traditional farming, along with selling fresh produce on site, gives farmers more ways to earn from their land and grow their operations.
