Judge slams Federated Farmers.
Going down the GE path was not popular with all farmers and given public perceptions it was bad PR. Such a stance would scarcely have wooed the public to ‘love Feds’.
Feds could more usefully have pursued other more pressing issues, for example, getting their members to comply with sustainability rules, persuading them to pay decent wages and look after their farm staff, or outing those breaching animal welfare or environmental rules. How much better to have spent the membership dollars sensibly and gained kudos and good PR?
It has taken an Environment Court judge to tell the Feds where not to go, and once again the cost to the Feds will be something they have to wear, unless there is a white knight somewhere who’ll pick up these costs.
The federation is about to appoint a new chief executive and that person, with the board, must work hard to restore the organisation’s credibility and reputation. Feds is not broke, but sometimes it goes down strange paths at the risk of damaging its public image.
Members had better read Judge Laurie Newhook’s judgement and think strategically about what the federation should be doing. In Ireland, the Irish Farmers Association is a highly credible lobby group respected at home and abroad. Sadly this can’t be said for Feds in New Zealand.
With Brexit and trade issues looming, a strong Feds is vital for NZ, and with the GE issue seemingly dead, buried and cremated they can all get on with it. Let’s hope wisdom prevails and any other pending legal proceedings on GE are dropped.
