increase font size
Katie Milne.
Federated Farmers says it is gearing up to assist members and farmers as local authorities start revealing their long term plans and budgets.
Feds says over the next two months it will make 68 submissions nationwide. It has prepared a policy guide to help its 24 provinces navigate council plans, with particular focus on rates.
“Our members and farmers pay a lot of money in rates, which can be among their highest overheads,” says Feds president Katie Milne.
She says this year is especially significant as local government faces big challenges on funding infrastructure in response to high population growth, but in some cases decline.
“Farmers are already paying big rates for essential items like local road networks, and are wondering what councils will come up with this time round,” Milne says.
“We want to make sure any new projects are both justified and funded appropriately.”
Milne says Feds has noticed a “disturbing trend” in council long term plans now out for consultation.
“While it’s early days, with a dozen or so long term plans out for consultation, we’re seeing significant rate increases for farmers, such as the 23.5% increase on rural communities proposed by Manawatu District Council and an overall rate increase of 12% for Bay of Plenty Regional Council ratepayers.”
She says Feds is also worried about the cost to local authorities of their activities other than core services, such as tourism promotion and economic development.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Farmer lobby group Federated Farmers has announced it is supporting a new Member’s Bill which it says could bring clarity to New Zealand farmers and save millions in legal costs.
Federated Farmers says climate protest group Greenpeace is manufacturing outrage and attempting to scare New Zealanders with headlines that have no basis in science.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
