RWNZ calls for prioritising community in proposed changes

The call comes after Beef + Lamb New Zealand asked the Government to pause plans to finalise the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity.

The statement, which builds on a draft created by the Biodiversity Collaborative Group, is designed to protect, maintain and restore indigenous biodiversity.

RWNZ national president Gill Naylor says that her organisation appreciates the need to care for the environment as do those who work on the land.

“However, we also need to care for our people and communities,” Naylor says.

“Food and fibre producers are currently under a huge amount of pressure due to the number and complexity of consultations and regulations they are dealing with.

“For this reason, we strongly urge the government to take a holistic approach to any proposed legislation and policy frameworks and pause to allow sufficient time for each tranche of new regulations to bed down before proceeding with more,” says Naylor.

She says that understanding the detail for proposed regulatory changes, engagement in consultations and the subsequent workload to meet new regulations requires “significant commitments in time and energy”.

“These issues, alongside staffing shortages and an unsettled business landscape is leading to a general feeling of despondency and frustration amongst our farmers and many living in rural communities. While some are coping well, many in our rural communities are not,” she says.

Naylor says broader consideration needs to be given to businesses who service primary producers.

“Rural communities depend on all manner of businesses and support to remain sustainable and resilient. This includes schools, health providers and other ‘community good’ services. The ripple-effect on these services could well have serious repercussions on the viability of a number of rural communities,” she says.

"We are deeply concerned for the mental health and wellbeing of those on the land and those whose businesses and services support them,” says Naylor. “As well as the detrimental effect on people and families personally, we also need to take into account the added burden this will place on an already stretched health sector, particularly the in the field of mental health and wellbeing."