A hurry up!
OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when challenged on a perceived lack of progress on various policy promises.
The National Party has announced what it says are sweeping changes to farm regulations.
The party’s agriculture spokesperson Todd McClay and environment spokesperson Scott Simpson claim the policy will improve access to workers, restore local decision-making, and protect food production.
“New Zealand farmers are the world’s best and among the carbon efficient,” McClay says.
“They also help New Zealand pay its way in the world with dairy, meat, wool and horticulture being New Zealand’s largest export earners,” he says.
He says the Getting back to farming package makes 19 changes to rules and regulations.
Simpson says the policy is about targeted rules with clear environmental limits so farmers can “work with confidence”.
“We know shutting down some of the world’s most carbon efficient farmers only sends production to less efficient farms overseas and could raise global emissions,” he says.
The policy introduces what the party calls a ‘2-for-1’ rule, saying that for every new regulation that central or local government wants to introduce on the rural sector they must take away two.
They would also require local and central government to assess the costs of all new rules on the rural sector and publish the findings.
The policy would also see the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) worker cap doubled over five years to 38,000; ban foreign direct investment for the purpose of converting farms to forestry, and scrap the Government’s Clean Car policies.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says the Government has used regulation to declare war on farmers.
“National will end that war by cutting red tape.
“New Zealand has the worst current account deficit in the developed world. If we don’t earn more from overseas, there will be consequences – like lower wages and less money to spend on the public services we all want and need,” he says.
“National’s Getting back to Farming package will make regulation fit for purpose.
“I want world-class regulation for our world-class farmers. Regulation has a role to play, but rules should avoid prescription, target outcomes, minimise compliance, and be clear to provide certainty.”
The CEO of Apples and Pears NZ, Karen Morrish, says the strategic focus of her organisation is to improve grower returns.
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.
OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The 2024-25 season apple harvest has “well and truly exceeded expectations”, says Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Karen Morrish.
Through collaborative efforts with exhibitors, visitors, and industry partners, Fieldays says it is reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility with new initiatives for 2025.
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OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…