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.
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.
While the New Zealand ute market is dominated by three main players, “disruptors” are never too far away.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
Afimilk, a global dairy farm management solutions provider, has appointed Justin Miller as the new general manager for New Zealand and Australia.
Investing in your people and in your own leadership skills is the path to success for a farming business, says economist Shamubeel Eaqub.
A leading farm consultant says it's likely the dairy season in the Waikato will come to a premature end because of the drought.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…
