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Feds arable and biosecurity spokesperson Karen Williams.
Farmers are questioning why the Government’s first ‘Wellbeing budget’ has left a critical gap in its commitment to conservation.
There is no additional funding for the QEII National Trust or the Ngā Whenua Rāhui Fund. Plus, woefully inadequate funding for the control of wilding conifers, Feds arable and biosecurity spokesperson Karen Williams says.
The extremely modest increase in funding for the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme means its work will be going backwards in terms of managing this out-of-control pest.
"We hoped to see the wilding conifer programme receive more like $25 million per year.
"It’s a $250 million problem growing at 20 per cent per year. We are not even going to hold our own at $10 million,” says Williams.
"By ignoring the problem all the Government is doing is pushing the responsibility further down the line for someone else to fix. If the country is not going to take pest plant wilding conifers seriously then it’s about time it was just said out loud."
QEII and the Department of Conservation’s Ngā Whenua Rāhui funded covenants provide the most cost effective and secure method of protecting and enhancing biodiversity values on private land.
Federated Farmers has worked closely with other non-government organisations and the Government on developing a workable National Biodiversity Strategy as part of the Biodiversity Collaborative Group. This group has identified the benefits of supporting the protection of indigenous biodiversity on private and Māori-owned land respectively. The benefits cannot be overstated and the demand for new covenants have outstripped demand.
"The Crown and the public expect greater protection of biodiversity value on private land to occur. How can work continue if the Government is not prepared to help fund it?"
QEII covenants protect more than 180,000 hectares on private land and play a critical role as a refuge for some of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered ecosystems.
"It’s unfortunate the Government can’t see its way to support conservation efforts with a tried and true track record."
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
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