'Regulatory Middlemen'
OPINION: Groundswell's opinion of the incumbent farm industry representatives isn't high.
ACT MP Mark Cameron is calling on Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash to apologise for comments made about Groundswell members.
During Question Time today, Nash said “I’m not too sure what Groundswell stands for these days… It’s a mixture of racism, anti-vaxxers, etc., etc.”
Nash told Parliament that the Government has met with farming leaders and engaged with rural communities when it has been appropriate.
Cameron says Nash showed contempt for rural New Zealand with his comments.
“Never has a politician looked down on the people paying the bills like this, stereotyping farmers the way Labour judges others for doing.
“Groundswell represents tens of thousands of everyday Kiwis concerned about the avalanche of red tape being imposed on farmers.”
Cameron says ACT has been advocating for Government to meet with Groundswell over concerns regarding freshwater regulations, the Zero Carbon Act, Significant Natural Areas, the Climate Change Commission’s report, and other initiatives and issues.
“Rural communities deserve better than name-calling from Labour MPs. Jacinda Ardern promised to govern for all New Zealanders. This was supposed to be a kind government. If Ardern wants to be taken seriously, she’ll tell Nash to apologise.”
In Dacre, near Invercargill in New Zealand’s South Island, Bruce Dinnington is running a dairy operation unlike any other.
A free online platform aggregating governance vacancies across rural and regional New Zealand has been launched.
Environment Minister Nicola Grigg has announced details of a new rural plastics recycling scheme.
Agricultural drone operators say that a government decision to allow lower-risk drone work without certification won’t lower standards but drive innovation and efficiency.
OPINION: Warning bells are ringing in the arable sector.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.

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