MAF to be renamed Ministry for Primary Industries

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is to be renamed to reflect the importance of the whole primary sector to the economy.

The ministry, to be known as the Ministry for Primary Industries from April 30, will cover agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, the food sector and biosecurity.

The change follows the merger of the Ministry of Fisheries and Food Safety Authority into MAF.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter said the name change was a logical move.

"It recognises the broad role of the ministry in growing and protecting the primary sector, the powerhouse of New Zealand's economy," he said.

"Importantly it provides the different parts of the organisation with a single, unifying identity."