Wednesday, 28 July 2021 09:55

They have a point!

Written by  Staff Reporters
Beef+Lamb NZ chair Andrew Morrison. Beef+Lamb NZ chair Andrew Morrison.

Beef+Lamb NZ chair Andrew Morrison says he understands why the Groundswell protest was so big.

He told Rural News it's really good that NZ has got farmers who love their sector so much they want to stand up for it.

"I think that is a strong message," Morrison says. "What I was really pleased with was the fact they conducted the protest in a really respectful way.

"We have been telling Government the same thing, that the pressure on farmers is just too much, and it's really powerful when farmers give them the same message."

Morrison says he's not sure if the Government gets the huge effort the primary industry has put in during Covid to achieve some amazing trade results - such as increasing the value and volume of meat exports.

"I think they look at the figures and that masks over the effort that has gone in to achieve that. People on farm and in the processing plants have lost a lot of sheep making this happen," he says. "All that angst is playing on people's minds."

Morrison believes the Groundswell movement is about the unworkable nature of some of the proposals that have been put to them. He says their concerns about the essential fresh water plans were 100% legitimate. He also believes hat the ute tax was an 'oversight' on the part of the Government.

"If you live in the Maniototo, or down at Nightcaps where I have been in the last few days, these places are miles away from anywhere and are very isolated and the roading networks are compromised," he told Rural News.

"You need a pretty robust vehicle, and if you don't have an option you would obviously be a bit upset if you had to pay more than somebody who has got an option."

Morrison says as a result of the protest he hopes that everyone will work together to achieve quality outcomes.

More like this

Back off!

OPINION: The inquiry into rural banking practice was welcomed at Fieldays, but Groundswell NZ added a proviso that this must include banks' treatment of agricultural emissions.

Market-led solution for emissions

OPINION: Thanks to the much-needed review of the methane science being announced, the topic of agricultural emissions is back in the discussion along with all the associated misinformation.

Parting shot?

OPINION: Environment Minister David Parker, likely in the final weeks of the job, remains hell-bent on burning bridges with farmers.

Persona non grata?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wonders just exactly how some of the so-called ‘leaders’ in the ag sector will fare if there is a change of Government on Oct 14.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

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.

Expo set to wow again

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.

A year of global challenges

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.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter