Full cabinet
OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the cogs of Cabinet.
The Government's decision to push through its 'Three Waters' reforms despite widespread opposition is being slammed by farmers and politicians.
Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says the government's announcement that Three Waters will be mandatory is a huge call.
"Federated Farmers, a majority of local authorities and many New Zealanders have voiced serious misgivings over the government's plans for council three waters assets to be transferred to four new mega entities," says Hoggard.
“We remain opposed to this plan.”
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta confirmed the Government will create four publicly owned water entities.
Mahuta claims this will ensure every New Zealander has access to affordable, long-lasting drinking, waste and storm water infrastructure without ballooning costs to households and families.
“The case for change is too compelling to ignore,” she says.
“It is clear that without the establishment of these publicly-owned entities we will continue to see a frail network and contaminated water in many communities. To delay will only push the problem on, increase future household costs and put livelihoods at risk,” says Mahuta.
But Hoggard says a working group of local government, iwi and water industry experts being set up to work through design of how the new entities will operate will have its work cut out to allay a multitude of concerns.
He wants rural residents concerned about the future of their water, sewerage and stormwater infrastructure should gear up to have their say.
"Top of the list for Federated Farmers are issues around governance and accountability. The complexity of rural water scheme ownership and operations has got rural people worried.
"How will the new entities ensure the needs of smaller and rural communities are not crowded out when setting investment priorities and plans?
"The proposed arms-length governance arrangements with directors appointed by panel, which are in turn appointed by yet another panel, weaken the accountability of water service entities to communities," Hoggard said.
ACT Party has vowed to reverse the reforms should it be part of the next Government.
ACT's Local Government spokesperson Simon Court says Mahuta fails to understand that the plan is being opposed by many stakeholders.
“ACT will be campaigning to return stolen property to councils, reversing Three Waters reforms and restoring democracy to New Zealand”, says
“If Labour steals it, ACT will give it back.
“It doesn't occur to Nanaia Mahuta that if people don't like her plan, maybe they're trying to tell her something, like it's a stupid plan that doesn't stack up and won't work.
“Because Mahuta is totally unable to take on board feedback, or understand how implausible her plan's benefits are, she is now forcibly taking council assets.”
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
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