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Miles Anderson
Less Wellington bureucracy and more local, on-farm common sense was the focus of recent meetings held in South Canterbury as part of the Government's National Woolshed tour program.
The two meetings, one at Waihaorunga and one at Albury, were hosted by Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson and MP for Waitaki Miles Anderson, attracting over 40 farmers at each event.
Patterson outlined the Government's aim to support the wool industry in these dire times, while also allowing it to grow beyond what it was capable of beforehand.
"There's been a global swing to natural fibres. Some smart entrepreneurs are doing some very interesting things, such as 3D printing biodegradable acoustic wall panels.
"We absolutely need wool prices to lift, especially as a support when meat prices run low. If there's a hill to die on, there are less worthy ones than wool."
Patterson said that the previous government "had been too Wellington-centric", ignoring the provinces that make up significant portions of New Zealand's population and economy.
Anderson said that while the original Resource Management Act had local input, he felt that outside non-government organisations had become too influential on policy matters. "I don't think outside organisations should be given more standing than local knowledge."
The announcement that the Government would be repealing intensive winter grazing regulations and amending the '10 degrees' low slope law drew much applause from the crowd.
"We've seen farmers lift their game about winter grazing over the last 3-4 years," said Patterson. "It's a high trust model."
Nevertheless, Anderson and Patterson said there was still a lot of work to do to get regulations up to standard for farmers.
Anderson points to changes in the nation's gun laws, passed in the wake of the Christchurch massacre that, combined with lost hunting seaons in 2020-21 due to Covid, have seen pest species populations explode across the country.
"Meanwhile, wilding pines planted to capture carbon credits have overtaken native plants and, ironically, by disturbing the native environment they have actually increased gas emissions."
Some topics divided the room, however, with live exports and gene editing sparking fierce debate between attendees and the representatives, with those in support being matched by those against.
Patterson, speaking in support of live exports, said that regardless of personal views on the issue, it was imperative that New Zealand adopt models to ensure that farmers can continue to have reliable income over different governments.
"We need the primary sector humming. We can't afford to turn down opportunities. We want to analyse the latest science and review. It's not going to be a quick fix, but we can make it work."
The Irish Minister of State for Rural Communities says his country and New Zealand face very similar challenges on a range of issues related to agriculture, including climate change, biodiversity and rural depopulation.
Dry conditions are widespread but worse in some places, with rain and drought affecting farms just a few kilometres away.
Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says the present weather conditions remain challenging for farmers.
Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson, who farms at Lawrence in Otago, has personally been actively involved in assessing the situation in his region.
There’s more state support available for North Canterbury farmers impacted by the ongoing drought.
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
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