increase font size
ACT MP Mark Cameron
ACT MP Mark Cameron says the Government is bringing common sense “back in the room” by halting the rollout of freshwater farm plans.
He told Rural News that the Government has listened to the constituents whereas the previous Government hadn’t.
The Government says it will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised.
Several regions have already started implementing freshwater farm plans in specific areas, including Waikato, Southland, the West Coast, Otago, and Manawatū-Whanganui, based on legislation passed by the previous Government.
Farmers have complained that the current system is too costly and not fit-for-purpose. The laws remain in place and council are required by law to seek freshwater farm plans from farmers.
The new Government intends to make minor amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) to enable the pause. Once these amendments are made, farmers will not be required to submit a freshwater farm plan for certification while changes to the freshwater farm plan system are underway.
Cameron says the council now have more certainty around the new Government’s intentions on freshwater management.
“We are steering the council to cease and desist, and they now have clarity that laws will change,” says Cameron.
“Until the laws change, the council are legally required to pursue freshwater farm plans however, the councils now know that we are changing the laws. We are putting common sense back in the room.”
Meanwhile Cameron, who is also chair of the primary production select committee and ACT MP Laura Trask are in Canterbury for public meetings.
They will be in Ashburton to hear from rural communities struggling with rules under the RMA Act, Freshwater Farm Plans, and Te Mana o te Wai.
“We will hear farmers’ experiences and concerns and take their insights to Wellington as the Government amends and replaces the RMA,” says Cameron.
The meeting at Ashburton Hotel starts at 6pm tomorrow, Friday September 6.
Primary production select committee chair and ACT MP Mark Cameron recently contributed to the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill - Second Reading in Parliament. Here are excerpts from his speech:
The Horticulture sector needs a fit-for-purpose system for freshwater farm plans that works for the sector and delivers on environmental outcomes, says Michelle Sands, acting chief executive of HortNZ.
OPINION: This month, the government announced a pause to the rollout of the national farm plan system.
OPINION: Common sense has prevailed.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…
OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…
