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It is understood pressure by Climate Change Minister James Shaw is forcing nationwide farmer consultations to go ahead - despite the arrival of the highly contagious Omicron variant in the community.
Pressure from government ministers is effectively forcing the He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) nationwide farmer consultation to go ahead.
This is despite the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant in the community and the restrictions on public meetings under the red light traffic settings. There is also the potential of health risks to farmers who are deemed essential workers.
HWEN has produced two alternative solutions that it wants to consult with farmers about during the next couple of months. A major consultation roadshow was scheduled to start this week and give farmers right across the country the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives to ask questions about the proposals. The consultation has been described by Beef + Lamb NZ (BLNZ) chairman Andrew Morrison as "one of the most important issues for farmers in 2022".
A media release, issued last week, said the roadshow will still go on with some changes made to the events. However, these were not detailed. It is understood the roadshow will be delayed for a short time - again no specific dates - to get everything back on track and presumably compliant with the Government's 'red light setting' for events.
Rural News understands that behind the scenes, BLNZ and DairyNZ were reluctant to go ahead with consultations - given the risk that indoor events pose to those attending, even with social distancing and vaccine passports.
It's understood that they are concerned that many older farmers and those with health issues will not attend the events out of fear of catching Covid.
However, it's understood that they've decided to go ahead out of fear that if they don't, the Government will push ahead anyway with its ETS legislature timeline on climate change and essentially ignore the voice of the rural community.
Rural News believes that many in the sector were astounded that the Government didn't take the initiative and put a moratorium on the whole process until the Omicron variant had at least passed its peak - especially given the very strict rules placed on events and the fact that even Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern postponed her own wedding because of the potential health risk.
It is thought that Climate Change Minister James Shaw's ideological drive to pass climate change legislation within strict deadlines has overridden the imperative of full and proper consultation with farmers.
BLNZ chairman Andrew Morrison told Rural News that the HWEN partners are having ongoing discussions with the Government about the wisdom of holding the roadshow, but as this paper went to press, the plan to stage the nationwide consultation event was still set to go ahead.
Morrison says they are asking for an extension of the timeline and are "in discussion" with the Government on this at the moment.
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