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Pita Alexander
OPINION: As the fuel crisis hits the country and rural New Zealand in particular, perhaps it's time to turn to one of the kaumatua of the rural sector, Pita Alexander - farm accountant, advisor and a source of knowledge and insightfulness.
Uncertainty and chaos reigns right across the country with queues of cars lining up at petrol stations making sure they have a full tank of gas.
For rural NZ to remain in business, a ready supply of diesel is essential. This is not about either going to town or to the movies, it's about food security - the ability to work the land and produce food and to transport this to the towns and cities. This is about survival.
For people living in isolated rural areas there is little public transport and so the ute or car is essential to get to the doctor, get farm supplies or to a job in a nearby town. This is where the sage advice of Pita Alexander and DairyNZ and others kicks in.
One of his key messages is more walking, swapping the farm bike for the ute and as he so aptly puts it - "more phone time, not fuel time". His other fuel saving trips are worth serious consideration, such as carpooling with a neighbour.
Alexander concedes that there will be financial pain, that interest rates will likely rise, that inflation may go the wrong way for a time and government support is likely to be in words rather than actions.
No one knows how long this crisis will last and when it's over what new order will be the norm. Alexander says low profits are still positive and that the tax bill will be lower. He says this is the time for neighbours to support each other and family members to do likewise. He says it's also time for farmers and growers to look after contractors to make sure their businesses remain viable. In essence. it's about calmness and common sense.
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