Higher production key driver for local economies

 Increased milk production, greater sheep and cattle numbers and any other production increase are what generate jobs and wealth in a community, he says. As agriculture intensifies it boosts a local economy. 

Pridmore says examples abound of how dependent some communities are on agriculture. If it were taken out of the south Waikato towns Tokoroa and Putaruru it would slash employment there, and many people may not wish to travel further afield for jobs.

More social research is needed to get an accurate handle on the effects of changes to agriculture on many small New Zealand towns and regions, Pridmore says. Many have grown rich on agriculture and want to retain the benefits of growth.

He says there is a scarcity of research on what happens in small towns and regions when their economies soften, hence regional councils’ growing interest in economic analysis as part of proposals for change to district and regional plans.

Linked to this is the quality of science used as evidence in planning change proposals. “A lot of science is produced, designed to be [neither] good nor bad. But there are many way to interpret that science. 

“Often in any organisation you have a mindset which, if it isn’t challenged, the assumptions get twisted and people start to believe them rather than having new eyes look at them. That’s why I like the new collaborative process – it makes people ask questions.” 

Pridmore says in an advocacy process, lawyers are shrewd and frame questions in a certain way to support their case. Often what a scientist ends up saying in court is not exactly what he or she believes.

“Personally, when I have given evidence I’ve found it hasn’t helped because [I’ve been] presenting to someone else who has a bigger story they are trying to sell. So for me, the collaborative process allows you to get away from that environment – to stand up and say ‘Here’s a study DairyNZ has funded: it’s been tested by peer reviewers who’ve been selected by the council independently and they think it’s a good study, but you might want to make some interpretations from what I say’.” 

Pridmore says it’s hard for the public to recognise good science, and though he is a scientist he also finds it hard. 

“I’ve been asked to judge some university science – very esoteric stuff – and it’s very hard even when you are in science to know what good or bad science looks like. So I don’t think the public knows what good science is.” 

He says he doubts a lot of the science on the internet and in social media has ever been peer reviewed or published.