Wednesday, 19 July 2023 09:55

Ministry bagged for carpet decision

Written by  Peter Burke
The MOE’s decision to carpet rural schools in foreign made synthetic carpets instead of NZ grown wool has been described as a slap in the face for Kiwi farmers. The MOE’s decision to carpet rural schools in foreign made synthetic carpets instead of NZ grown wool has been described as a slap in the face for Kiwi farmers.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) is copping flak over its decision to carpet 800 small and remote rural schools with synthetic tiles rather than wool.

A wide range of disparate groups - including the Green Party, Groundswell, The Campaign for Wool NZ, Federated Farmers and even teachers themselves - have hit out at the ministry for going synthetic.

The MOE claims the synthetic product it is purchasing from an American company is cheaper and can endure heavy use and wear and dirt. It also claims it meets requirements for recycling and carbon footprint goals.

This last statement is widely disputed by critics as are MOE's claims that synthetic products out performs wool.

Federated Farmers Meat & Wool chair Toby Williams says the MOE decision to carpet rural schools in foreign made synthetic carpets instead of NZ grown wool is a slap in the face for Kiwi farmers. He says this decision completely flies in the face of all the Government's rhetoric about improving sustainability, protecting the planet, and phasing out single-use and hard-to-recycle plastics.

"Just the other week, the Government were patting themselves on the back for banning plastic bags, cutlery, straws, and fruit stickers - then they turn around and make a decision like this? It just doesn't add up," Williams says.

"To carpet the average Kiwi home in synthetic carpet is the equivalent of having 22,000 plastic bags on the floor. What do they think happens with all those nylon carpets when people are done with them?

"They go straight to landfill. The Ministry for Education say it chose to go with synthetic carpets because they presented better 'value'. I'd question who for - because it's certainly not the environment or our rural communities."

Williams says it's time for the Government to start backing Kiwi sheep farmers.

"They need to stop carpeting our country in pine trees and start carpeting our classrooms in sustainable products."

More like this

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought it wise to run the numbers through the old Casio.

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be, despite falling interest rates, and the report still paints a damning picture of rural lending.

Tributes for leader

Tributes have flowed in from around the country for mid-Canterbury farming leader Chris Allen who died in a tragic accident on his farm near Ashburton.

Feds, banks lock horns

Major rural lenders are welcoming a call by farmers for the Commerce Commission to investigate their net-zero emissions target.

Featured

New UHT plant construction starts

Construction is underway at Fonterra’s new UHT cream plant at Edendale, Southland following a groundbreaking ceremony recently.

National

Machinery & Products

GEA launches robotic milkers

Milking technology provider GEA Farm Technologies is introducing its first automatic milking system (AMS) in New Zealand.

More front hoppers

German seeding specialists Horsch have announced a new 1600- litre double-tank option that will join its current Partner FT single…

Origin Ag clocks up 20 years

With roots dating back to 2004, Origin Ag was formed as a co-operative business model that removed the traditional distributor,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought…

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be,…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter