==================================================================== Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a ministerial reshuffle, with key changes for the agricultural and environment sectors. Nicola Grigg picks up the Environment portfolio, while Mike Butterick joins as Minister for Land Information and Associate Minister of Agriculture — appointments that will be closely watched by the farming community. Energy security is also front of mind, with Luxon elevating the Energy portfolio to senior minister Simeon Brown, citing the impact of Middle East conflict on global fuel supply as a key driver of the decision. Elsewhere in the reshuffle, Chris Penk joins Cabinet with the Defence, GCSB, NZSIS, and Space portfolios, and Penny Simmonds takes on Tertiary Education and Science, Innovation and Technology. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the departures of Judith Collins and Shane Reti, who together have given nearly 40 years of parliamentary service. All changes take effect from next Tuesday. ==================================================================== Fonterra has settled a lawsuit with Greenpeace Aotearoa over labelling on its Anchor butter packaging, after the activist group challenged the use of the phrase "100-percent New Zealand grass-fed" on products sold between December 2023 and April 2025……The two parties reached a confidential settlement outside of court on Wednesday. Greenpeace argued the claim was misleading because Fonterra cows also receive imported supplementary feed, including palm kernel expeller. The combined use of the two phrases was found to have breached the Fair Trading Act. Fonterra says its cows are 96 percent grass-fed, but acknowledges the combined wording would likely have misled some consumers. The co-op has already removed the logo from Anchor packaging, which now sits under French dairy company Lactalis, following Fonterra's sale of its Mainland Group consumer brands business. Greenpeace is calling on Fonterra to phase out palm kernel use entirely across all its farms. ===================================================================== PGG Wrightson Wool have reported a solid result at the latest North Island Sale, with a hundred percent of wool sold and prices holding reasonably well across most categories. A softer New Zealand dollar — sitting around 58 US cents — helped support values against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty. The key watch point out of the sale is vegetable matter. PGG Wrightson Wool's Appraisal and Procurement Coordinator Annabel Busby says buyers are applying clear discounts for VM contamination — particularly in lambs' wool — with B/P, Shears, and Fleece all affected. Crossbred Fleece good style edged up one percent to five dollars forty-four per kilogram, while crossbred oddments fell four percent. The South Island auction goes under the hammer next Thursday. ===================================================================== Tony and Michelle Roberts, alongside Kate Roberts and Mark Lieshout of Top Deck Trading near Gore, have been named Southland Regional Supreme Winners at this years Ballance Farm Environment Awards. They have transformed their 269-hectare property into a highly efficient, diversified operation combining deer velvet production, dairy heifer grazing and beef. The awards also spotlighted the Waikawa Catchment Group, a community-led initiative operating across around 18,000 hectares since 2009, focused on improving water quality and biodiversity across Southland. The Roberts family now progress to the National Showcase in Christchurch on July the second, where regional winners will compete for the prestigious Gordon Stephenson Trophy and the title of 2026 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing. ======================================================================
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