Mark Cameron Steps Down, Reflects on Farmers' Voice
When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.
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.”
OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.
Farmers can spend less time on paperwork, thanks to a new data sharing agreement between DairyNZ’s DairyBase and LIC’s MINDA software.
Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.
Rural New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s recent package of rural healthcare initiatives.
Interest in agritech and production animal systems has prompted Massey University's School of Agriculture and the Environment to new majors to its popular animal science degree.
Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…