OPINION: On the 2nd of May, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced that the 'government remains on track to ban full farm-to-forestry conversion'.
Sounds great and it was welcomed by Fed Farmers.
But in a matter of a couple of days, the news comes out that the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) has given permission for two central Hawke's Bay farms to be sold for forestry.
The OIO claims this will benefit NZ. Who are they kidding?
Livestock farming offers much more employment to communities than plain old pines.
So, is the OIO not listening to Todd McClay or is he not getting the message out?
Before long, NZ will be known as the land of the long green forest - not the land of the long white cloud.
Come on Minister, do something more than sending out press releases.