Editorial: Getting RMA settings right
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
OPINION: Common sense has prevailed.
The Government decision to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised is the right call.
The decision will be welcomed by farmers and regional councils in areas where freshwater plans have started, including parts of Waikato, Southland, the West Coast, Otago, and Manawatu-Whanganui.
The Government's view is that freshwater farm plans support farmers in managing freshwater risks, but the current system is too costly and not fit-for-purpose. However, while the Government simplifies requirements and enables more local catchment-level solutions, regional councils had been legally bound under the RMA to get farmers to comply with freshwater plans.
This left many farmers in a state of limbo, wonderig if they should get a freshwater farm plan under the current rules or wait for changes. Councils have already started implementing freshwater farm plan rules, but it makes no sense to force farmers to comply when they know the rules are about to change.
Wellington heard the concerns of the sector and Cabinet has agreed to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans while potential changes are considered. Minor amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) will enable the pause.
Halting the rollout means farmers can wait for the Government to release the new rules around freshwater farm plans without having regional councils breathing down their necks.
There's no doubt that the current rules around freshwater plans are incredibly frustrating, with a lot of unnecessary cost, complexity and duplication.
It could be improved to reduce cost and complexity, and better acknowledge the environmental progress farmers are making. New freshwater farm plans must acknowledge the good work many farmers are already doing.
The key thing for farmers is to make a start and keep up their efforts - their work will not be wasted. And that makes sense.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
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