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FEDERATED FARMERS says it welcomes exemption of farm buildings from the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill but remains concerned about the bill's implications for rural service towns.
"We believe there needs to be a lot more work to model the effect of an earthquake on the types of streetscape found in provincial centres," says new Feds' vice president, Anders Crofoot.
"Even then there needs to be a social and economic decision to balance a pure safety approach with a degree of pragmatism."
A focus on parapets, verandahs and removing at-risk items could greatly boost safety with minimal social and financial cost, he suggests.
"It is hard to disagree with the Property Council of New Zealand, which believes the bill could work, but only if earthquake strengthening is made tax deductible, qualifying for depreciation."
Feds says with an estimated 250,000 farm buildings in New Zealand, just assessing against earthquake standards could cost farmers collectively $170 million.
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.
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