increase font size
ALL HAWKE'S BAY residents and businesses are being asked to drive their vehicle, whether it is a truck, tractor or excavator, in support of the Ruataniwha water storage scheme in Waipukurau tomorrow.
"We are calling on every person and business in Hawke's Bay who wants to have a better future here, to get in their car, ute, tractor or truck and be at Waipukurau's memorial hall car park on Friday at 12pm," says Will Foley, Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay provincial president.
"This Friday is our chance to show New Zealand how much Hawke's Bay wants to create a positive future for our kids and their kids. The dam will provide so much opportunity for Hawke's Bay.
"We are expecting a strong show of support and are positively backing Ruataniwha because this is our last shot before the Board of Inquiry delivers its final decision.
"Nothing of any worth has ever come from being negative.
"That's why we need a positive show of support to demonstrate what we the people who live here want. The feeling in the community is positive and we need to make a stand to show how much of a game changer the dam is going to be for the region.
"The South Island's Opuha scheme is a shining example of how the whole water storage package works for the economy and the environment.
"The answer to reversing the population drift to Auckland and reversing the loss of businesses and services is as simple as 'just add water.'
"Federated Farmers is okay with having a number for nitrogen, but let's make it an indicator and not chiselled in granite. The whole scheme's viability hinges on this policy point.
"That will only happen if we show everyone just what Ruataniwha means to us.
"You can do that by making a slogan banner to hang off your vehicle this Friday at midday at Waipukurau's memorial hall car park," Foley says.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Farmers want the Government to scrap controversial freshwater rules that "put river spirits and ideology ahead of practical water use", says Federated Farmers board member Mark Hooper.
OPINION: Public pressure has led to Canterbury Police rightly rolling back its proposed restructure that would have seen several rural police stations closed in favour of centralised hubs.
When I interview Rachel Cox, she is driving - on her way to her next meeting.
With Fonterra's UHT plant at its Edendale site less than a year from completion, demand continues to grow for products the plant will produce, such as Anchor Whipping Cream.
A new $50,000 scholarship fund designed to support and empower women in the New Zealand dairy industry through leadership development has been launched.
Many farmers around the country are taking advantage of the high dairy payout to get maximum production out of their cows.
In 2015, the signing of a joint venture between St Peter's School, Cambridge, and Lincoln University saw the start of an exciting new chapter for Owl Farm as the first demonstration dairy farm in the North Island. Ten years on, the joint venture is still going strong.
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…
