Fence Lines

Food supply is in the spotlight and rightly so. Food is a "physiological need" — level one of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — above level two, safety and security. The behaviour of supermarket...

The pace of Covid-19 spread and the enormity of associated country-by-country restrictions means by the time this column goes to print whatever I write will be out of date.

I am sitting in Mumbai airport reflecting on what I have learned as part of a New Zealand trade delegation to India.

Big-food companies dominate our supermarket shopping trollies and have significant sway over where their items are positioned, making it incredibly hard for small or local companies to make traction.

Recently, I was called out for frightening ‘‘mum and dad farmers’’ when I wrote about the threat of cellular agriculture and alternate proteins to agricultural products.

One of my sons has just finished school and I am astounded how often he is asked what he wants to do when he leaves.

It seems to be that the larger an organisation, the greater the time spent on internal matters, or what could otherwise be described as ''politics''.

One of the great perks of travel is cancelled flights and additional time in airports! I could while away the next few hours browsing overpriced cosmetics, but no, I have decided to use my time...

New Zealand farmers do not play on a level playing field with their international food producing competitors. This has been the case since the 1980s, when farm subsidies were removed and our...

I've had an eventful week. A couple of months ago, I was called up for jury service. I looked at my calendar and tried to find a way out but decided that I couldn't justify delaying my civic duty.

My meal of choice in the days when I was single and flatting was a baked potato smothered in cheese, sour cream and Brussels sprouts.

I am having a sunny week on the Gold Coast with my family - it feels like a long way from the Dunedin winter which I understand has finally hit.

My mother has returned from visiting my brothers who live in England. To make that trip, she was responsible for contributing more than three tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.

It seems a long time ago that National MP Shane Ardern rode ''Myrtle'', his elderly tractor, up the parliamentary steps in protest at the proposed ''fart tax''.

I feel unable to write about the events in Christchurch last week - nor am I able to write about anything else.