A study to assess both the cost and sustainability of potential marketing advantages (UK and overseas) of beef and lamb produced from high welfare systems.

Friday, 13 November 2009

Meetings, meetings and even more meetings!




Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th November.
Meetings, meetings and even more meetings! The New Zealand Government, and the MAF Department specifically, had worked very diligently to put together a comprehensive program of meetings on my behalf. I was also looking forward to meeting Kirsty Grant, and Paula Lemow who had done most of the hard graft on the ground and to convey my appreciation in person. The highlight of the two days would be a conversation with Minister for Agriculture, The Honourable David Carter. I am not going to expand on these meetings, partly because there would be too much detail, but also because I am desperately trying to bring my blog up to date. I seem to be falling further behind all the time! So just a list, but suffice to say that the conversations with the various organisations and the Minister were amicable, informative, and illuminating. No one went to sleep during my presentation, not even Sheila which was also good for ones self esteem!

Monday:

Seminar and Presentation – FAWC, Past Present and Future

Meetings with:
· MAF Animal Welfare Team
· Tim Richie, CEO, Meat Industry Association
· Kevin Cresswell, Technical Executive, Meat Industry Association
· Ben O’Brian, General Manager, Meat and Wool NZ
· Jacinta Gould, Policy Officer, Economic Division, Foreign Affairs and Trade
· Richard Ivess, Senior Specialist, Trade Negotiations Division, Foreign Affairs and Trade
· The Honourable Minister David Carter, Minister of Agriculture.

Tuesday:

· Barry O’Neill, Deputy Director General MAFBNZ and Immediate Past President of the OIE
· Cheryl O’Connor, Programme Manager, Animal Welfare, MAF
· Interview with Neal Keating of Rural News
· Don Nicolson, President of Federated Farmers
· Tony Friedlander, CEO, Road Transport Forum NZ
· Richard Wild, President NZ Veterinary Association and Animal Welfare Specialist NZ Food Authority Verification Agency
· Julie Hood, CEO, NZ Veterinary Association

Two intensive days, with many questions answered, but with others appearing in my mind after the meetings, which now can be followed up by e mail due to the excellent contacts made over the two days.

2 comments:

  1. Andrew & Rhiannon Morris16 November 2009 at 14:31

    Great to catch up with your New Zealand travels, it's bringing back great memories for all of us, its a wonderful country and the people are fantastic hosts, i'm sure you will continue to enjoy the experience

    ReplyDelete
  2. Y trip yn swnio'n ddiddorol. Ti'n lwcus dy fod yn dianc rhag y tywydd gwael fan hyn. Nia Bronhuan.

    ReplyDelete