Scott Simpson Coromandel MP

Innovation and smart-thinking have gone hand-in-hand to earn the Western Bay of Plenty District Council a top environmental prize.

The council won a Green Ribbon for Public Sector Leadership, awarded by the Ministry for the Environment.

The awards recognise contributions to protecting and enhancing New Zealand's environment.

Along with the judges, I too am impressed with the council's innovation on dealing with biosolids from the Waihi Beach and Katikati wastewater treatment plants.

Instead of putting it into landfill, the biosolids are used as natural fertiliser and soil conditioner on stock paddocks.

WBOPDC is NZ's first council to undertake full-scale vermicomposting, leading the way for other organisations.

I was delighted to be at the ceremony in Wellington, when the winners were announced and to meet some of the team. WBOPDC is a thoroughly deserving winner.

Positive outlook for primary industries

I'm feeling very positive for our farmers and primary producers after looking at a new report from the Ministry of Primary Industries.

In our part of the world, these sectors play a big part in our economy.

The annual report, called ‘Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries', provides a snapshot and forecast for our major primary sectors.

It makes for fantastic reading – NZ's primary sector exports are expected to reach record levels of $37.7billion.

Compared to last year that's a staggering $1.3b more than previously forecast.

In particular I thought the dairy and forestry sectors stood out, with good increases in both price and production.

A boost for the forestry sector is expected as a result of China's demand for logs, and with growing domestic demand for sawn timber for housing.

Export earnings for our seafood industry are expected to increase to $1.64b in 2018, with high demand expected to continue from China, Australia, US and the EU.

The full report is available at www.mpi.govt.nz/sopi14

The report from the Ministry for Primary Industries has come out at the same time as the International Monetary Fund's latest report on NZ.

The IMF says we should expect strong and increasingly broad-based economic growth here. It's predicting annual economic growth will peak at 3.5 per cent this year.

I see their forecast as further evidence the Government's economic programme is taking NZ in the right direction.

As the Finance Minister Bill English says: 'This is the latest in a series of encouraging reports on the NZ economy, confirming that we are well placed compared with most other developed countries”.