Editorial: Having a rural voice
OPINION: The past few weeks have been tough on farms across the North Island: floods and storms have caused damage and disruption to families and businesses.
The farmer lobby's policy platform for the 2023 election highlights 12 key policy changes it wants put into action. Feds says for the past five years, farmers have been living through a period of unprecedented regulatory change.
"A swathe of new requirements for improving water quality, biodivdersity and the climate have taken a real toll on the wellbeing of our rural communities," Feds president Wayne Langford says.
"The intent of these regulations may have been good, but the reality of the execution and implementation has been nothing short of disastrous for our farmers. The end result is a long list of highly prescriptive and unworkable rules that ties us up in red tape and heap on unnecessary costs."
Langford says NZ farmers have a great story to tell when it comes to their economic contribution - such as the jobs they create and the work do to improve environmental outcomes."
But he points out that current farmer confidence is at record lows and his organisation is determined to turn this around by bringing real solutions to the table.
"This election we're being very clear about what needs to be done to restore farmer confidence, support thriving rural communities, improve environmental outcomes and unlock the potential of our primary sector," Langford says.
"The best thing about our policy priorities is that they won't cost the taxpayer a dollar. We're just asking for the new government to get the settings right, so farmers have the confidence to invest, grow, and get on with what they do best - farming."
12-Point Plan
Feds policy priorities for the new government are:
- Support better use of technologies
- Unlock potential through water storage
- Allow young farmers to access their Kiwisaver
- Urgently review our methane targets
- Rethink ETS Forestry Rules and net-zero target
- Scrap the ute tax and fix our infrastructure
- Give back control to local communities
- Fix unworkable freshwater rules
- Get RMA reform right
- Simplify Significant Natural Areas
- Build the farmer workforce
- Show fiscal and monetary discipline
