Feds make case for rural bank lending probe
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
Federated Farmers is pleased to see the Government getting on with the job of reforming resource management legislation.
Today’s announcement of the return of the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill to select committee will be well received by our members, Federated Farmers RMA spokesperson Chris Allen says.
"This process has been very long and very drawn out, and I’m sure there are many Kiwis who’d been thinking this Government wouldn’t be able to get this done,” Allen says.
"So we congratulate Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith on his stickability on this issue.”
Feds will be watching with particular interest to see the detail in the proposed legislation around new provisions for enabling stock exclusion from waterways.
"This is a super hot topic for us. We are working with councils and our members all over the country on this issue,” says Allen.
"Ensuring the provisions are practical, workable and affordable will be a high priority for us.
"We’ll also be keen to see the proposals around requirements for councils to free up more land for housing.
"This is becoming an area of keen interest and concern for our members. Feds represents about 70% of New Zealand’s productive farming area.
"In my opinion government agencies need to make sure high quality soils and land isn’t sacrificed to housing, because we’ll never get it back.”
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has found itself in a stoush with NZPork over the controversial National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
Well-known scientist Jock Allison has passed away.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.