Dead in the water
OPINION: In a victory for common sense over virtue signalling, David Parker's National Policy Statement (NPS) work on freshwater is now dead in the water.
At times it is hard not to believe the meme that ‘Minister of Everything’ David Parker really does hate farmers and farming.
Parker has done little to debunk this mindset since coming into government: consider his arrogant pre-election threat to double Labour’s proposed (but ill-fated) irrigation tax if farmers did not meekly accept his plans.
So when Parker, wearing his Environment Minister hat, provocatively goes on television demanding an improvement in water quality and alluding to livestock reductions in certain regions if this does not happen, it is like deja vu all over again!
It might advance Parker’s political posturing to point the finger at farming – dairy in particular – while he claims he will drag the sector ‘kicking and screaming’ to clean up its act and the country’s waterways. However, he is not telling the full story about the work now underway around New Zealand to tackle water quality.
In Canterbury, Waikato, Manawatu and Horowhenua, Southland and Otago a huge amount of collaborative work has been done by regional councils, communities and farmers. Catchment by catchment, plans are being implemented already to move on the sorts of measures the Environment Minister says he will implement.
Some places will face having to cap or reduce cow numbers, others are implementing new nutrient limits, and any proposed new irrigation schemes must have nutrient budgets and limitations as part of their resource consent conditions.
This is not to mention that around the country farmers have erected tens of thousands of kilometres of fences to keep stock out of waterways; they have planted millions of trees and shrubs in riparian strips; and they have begun managing their land and operations in new ways to reduce their environmental impact on water.
Farmers are not blind to how they affect the environment: the rural sector acknowledges change must happen for reasons of economics, sustainability, international reputation and even their ‘social licence’ to continue farming with public support.
Parker says he will have failed as a politician if he does not push regulation which leads to an improvement in NZ’s water quality.
Maybe so, but he has already failed the honesty test by not acknowledging to the wider public the work now being done in good faith by the farming sector – and others – to address water quality issues.
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
Sheep and beef farmers Matt and Kristin Churchward say using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread fertiliser on their sprawling 630ha farm is a game changer for their business.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…