Dairy farmers to benefit from major RMA reforms planned by government
Dairy farmers are set to benefit from the radical sweeping changes the Government is planning to make to the regulations that form part of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton is calling for local government to streamline the resource consent process, saying it was holding the horticulture industry to ransom.
Speaking at the annual Horticulture New Zealand conference in Auckland, Fenton said: "Jumping through the complex and lengthy consent process is the biggest costs to growers."
Fenton said that last year HortNZ spent 30% of its levy funding advocating on resource management issues, the issue was that serious.
"We understand the importance and need for the Resource Management Act (RMA) in developing and protecting our country's natural resources, but that's not what we're questioning. It's how local councils are implementing the Act. Their systems are stifling growers from improving their businesses and ultimately their communities."
"We urge councils to revisit their resource management systems and work closely with their horticulture communities, because at the end of the day its growers' livelihoods and thousands of Kiwi jobs that are at stake."
HortNZ has estimated the RMA has cost the industry up to $30 million over the last 12 months in compliance costs.
Fenton welcomed the work Minister for Primary Industries David Carter and the Government have done to try and remove some of the obstacles in the RMA system and said HortNZ would be closely monitoring progress being made.
He also recognised Auckland Council, and the Taranaki and Environment Canterbury regional councils which have consistently demonstrated a positive attitude towards working alongside growers.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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