Federated Farmers Urges Farmers to Vote on November 7
With less than a week to go before voters choose the next government, Federated Farmers has a simple message to its members - get out and vote.
Federated Farmers water spokesman Chris Allen says with the absence of detail on Labour’s new water tax policy, voters will be sailing blind into the election.
Allen says while the pledge to consult with those affected if Labour is part of the new government is appreciated, farmers need information before the election.
“Surely at least they have a starting figure in mind, to open negotiations with water users and to give voters a clue on the quantum of tax they envisage.
“Ten cents a litre has been suggested for exporters of bottled water, which has been contested as a thousand times exaggerated for the royalty that might apply to large commercial users. So what is the figure?” Allen says.
Federated Farmers is strongly opposed to a water royalty when it would essentially be an extra tax on electricity, food and exports.
“If the problem is with bottled water, then let’s just fix that problem.”
Will drones be the answer to tackling the problem of wasp and hornet nests high up in trees and other inaccessible places?
Canterbury milk processor Synlait has come through tough times and is now ready to scale up from a stable base, says its newly confirmed CEO Leon Fung.
NZPork says a ham made in New Zealand is not necessarily made from New Zealand pork.
Rural Contractors NZ says proposed changes to land transport rules for agricultural vehicles are a welcome response by the Government to out-of-date regulations which have seen members hit with huge fines.
With New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions in the spotlight, Auckland scientist Nathan Balasingham says there’s a better way to tackle the problem than shrinking cow numbers or fertiliser usage.
Massey University vice chancellor Pierre Venter says his institute is moving from a period of austerity into a growth phase, based on their new strategy.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.