increase font size
OPINION: The euphoria over the Government’s two new bills to replace the broken Resource Management Act is over.
On December 9 last year the Government introduced the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill (Bills) set to replace the RMA.
The announcement was welcomed with joy and relief in the farming sector.
It came with the promise of a stronger focus on property rights, a tighter scope, fewer resource consents, more standardisation and less litigation – sounding like the reset farmers have been calling for
But with more than 700 pages of legislation to wade through – and a Christmas break in the middle – farmer groups have been very busy getting their heads around what’s really in these bills.
And what they have found is alarming: some big fishhooks which could make the new rules set by regional councils more restrictive.
Federated Farmers, which says its completely on board with the aims of the reform, is now casting doubts on some of the key aspects of the reforms.
The farmer lobby says it’s become clear that what officials have delivered does not always match Cabinet’s intent.
As currently drafted, the new system may be more permissive where environmental limits are comfortably met, but potentially more restrictive where a catchment is at its limit or in breach.
Given councils often set limits that aim to maintain current water quality levels, this could mean most catchments are immediately at or beyond environmental limits from the outset.
Most concerning of all are provisions allowing freshwater rights to be auctioned, tendered, or levied – effectively enabling freshwater to be taxed.
Federated Farmers is alarmed at clauses in the bill that give future ministers sweeping powers to tax water to manage demand.
Expect the farming sector to submit in droves, opposing some of the planned reforms.
The message from farmers to the Government is clear – promising one thing and delivering another is unacceptable to them.
Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chair, Bevan Lill, said Beef + Lamb NZ data indicated that for the last six years, the average arable return on investment was about 0.8% while inflation ran about 4% - so the average arable farm was going backwards at about 3% a year.
For the first time in a quarter of a century, Federated Farmers has something positive to say about the Labour Party’s climate change policy leading into a general election.
Rural leader Mark Hooper has been appointed as an independent director to the NZPork board, bringing extensive farming, governance and advocacy experience to the role.
OPINION: Groundswell's opinion of the incumbent farm industry representatives isn't high.
There's been widespread support from the primary sector for the Government's announcement on changes to freshwater farm plans that come under the Natural Environment Bill, which is now set to replace the existing RMA.
New Zealand's citrus growers were challenged to build their future on the value embedded in their fruit rather than the volume they produce, at Citrus New Zealand's annual gathering in Gisborne on 17 September.
Leading John Deere technicians and apprentices from New Zealand and Australians were recognised at the recent sixth annual JD Technician of the Year Awards, held in Brisbane.
In Dacre, near Invercargill in New Zealand’s South Island, Bruce Dinnington is running a dairy operation unlike any other.
A free online platform aggregating governance vacancies across rural and regional New Zealand has been launched.
Environment Minister Nicola Grigg has announced details of a new rural plastics recycling scheme.
Agricultural drone operators say that a government decision to allow lower-risk drone work without certification won’t lower standards but drive innovation and efficiency.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
