increase font size
Groundswell NZ will be holding a protest against the Government's ute tax this Friday.
Farmers are being encouraged to take their utes, tractors and dogs to town this Friday (July 16) to protest against government regulations.
Groundswell NZ is organising 'A Howl of a Protest' in town centres from Gore to Kerikeri. The group says it is for "farmers, growers and ute owners who are fed up with increasing government interference in your life and business, unworkable regulations and unjustified costs". Last October, Groundswell NZ organised a tractor protest in Gore where more than 100 tractors were driven down the town's main street to protest against new winter grazing regulations.
Spokesperson Bryce McKenzie says farmers are frustrated by new government regulations. He says they are facing new freshwater regulations, winter grazing rules and indigenous biodiversity regulations.
"This is important because there is a lot of anguish out there, there is a lot of tension and this is a way people can get together and show that they're not happy," McKenzie says.
"We want farmers to gather up a few of their neighbours and go to town in their tractors or utes. A statement will be read from Groundswell at each centre and then there will be a bark up, or a howl up, from the dogs."
He is also encouraging tradies to also join the protests because they are being penalised as well if they wanted to upgrade their utes.
Last month, the Government announced a new rebate scheme, which will make lower-carbon-emitting cars more affordable for New Zealanders and will see a fee placed on higher-emission vehicles - such as utes.
"Tradies are also being penalised - their utes are just as essential fro them as they are for farmers," McKenzie adds. "We're being penalised for living in a rural area, or for having a practical work vehicle."
Groundswell is also encouraging people taking part in the protests to have lunch in town afterwards to support local businesses.
So far, protests have been organised for Gore, Mosgiel, Oamaru, Greymouth, Blenheim, Thames, Hastings, Palmerston North and Kerikeri, Further towns could be added to the list.
While it wouldn’t be unfair to call the LDV T60 “the poor man’s ute”, a change of distributor in 2023 has seen the brand raise its profile, while the recent arrival of the new LDV T60 Max Plus, will undoubtedly open the door to a wider audience for the brand.
Ford New Zealand has announced the addition of the Everest Tremor as a rugged and capable expansion of its hugely popular SUV family, said to offer improved offroad capabilities, without compromising on towing capacity or on-road comfort.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) chair Kate Acland says there are clear governance processes in place to ensure fairness and transparency.
OPINION: The coalition Government, already under the pump thanks to poor polling numbers, is facing the ire of its traditional support base – dairy and red meat farmers.
While the LDV brand has been available in New Zealand for a number of years, it’s typically been recognised as a second tier offering. That has started to change after distribution passed to the Inchcape Group in 2023, who are on a trajectory to improve that public perspective, and in due course, push sales upwards.
New Zealand’s dairy sector cannot expect India to be a market for all its dairy products.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods’ net profit has plunged on the back of lower market returns which squeezed margins and impacted business performance.
OPINION: Most people will be aware of the Government's plans to boost coal, oil and gas production to meet energy requirements.
AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Twenty rural community hubs across New Zealand will receive $5,000 to upgrade their facilities having been selected as the winners of Rabobank's Community Hub Competition.
As the dairy industry prepares to celebrate its top achievers at an awards night this Saturday, attendees are being warned to be aware of protests planned outside the venue – Baypark Arena, Mount Mauganaui.
OPINION: The good fight against "banking wokery" continues with a draft bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and…
OPINION: Despite the volatility created by the shoot-from-the-hip trade tariff 'stratefy' being deployed by the new state tenants in the…
