Editorial: Sense at last
OPINION: For the first time in many years, a commonsense approach is emerging to balance environmental issues with the need for the nation's primary producers to be able to operate effectively.
An "unworkable and economically” damaging recent Environment Court decision will not be challenged by Horticulture New Zealand because of the cost and time involved.
The court’s decision to uphold an appeal by Ngati Kahungunu in Hawke’s Bay was based on the interpretation of the words “maintenance and enhancement” of freshwater bodies. The court says those words mean the water quality within every single water body must be managed in a way that water quality is maintained or enhanced.
HortNZ believes this interpretation will cause huge problems because it goes against the direction the Government has taken in its national policy for freshwater, which allows local communities to decide how their water bodies are maintained.
HortNZ says the decision could be used to challenge the development of land across the country for any purpose.
“This is simply unworkable. Land use is always changing, to meet the needs of communities. This can’t always happen with nil effect,” HortNZ natural resources manager Chris Keenan says.
HortNZ says appeal costs could be $100,000 plus, and with the considerable and increasing grower commitments to farm planning, environmental research and water quality tools it cannot justify the expense.
“We are deeply concerned about the effect of this decision across the country, but growers can’t afford to fight it alone, and the issue is not ours alone.”
Activities such as urbanisation, farming, development of roads and other infrastructure can all have adverse effects on freshwater.
“Central government will need to take a long, hard look at this decision and the words used in it. Because the way it reads now, activities like regional development, greenfields subdivision and infrastructure development can all be challenged if they have impacts on water quality,” Keenan says.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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