Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
"We are calling on every person and business in Hawke's Bay who wants to have a better future here, to get in their car, ute, tractor or truck and be at Waipukurau's memorial hall car park on Friday at 12pm," says Will Foley, Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay provincial president.
"This Friday is our chance to show New Zealand how much Hawke's Bay wants to create a positive future for our kids and their kids. The dam will provide so much opportunity for Hawke's Bay.
"We are expecting a strong show of support and are positively backing Ruataniwha because this is our last shot before the Board of Inquiry delivers its final decision.
"Nothing of any worth has ever come from being negative.
"That's why we need a positive show of support to demonstrate what we the people who live here want. The feeling in the community is positive and we need to make a stand to show how much of a game changer the dam is going to be for the region.
"The South Island's Opuha scheme is a shining example of how the whole water storage package works for the economy and the environment.
"The answer to reversing the population drift to Auckland and reversing the loss of businesses and services is as simple as 'just add water.'
"Federated Farmers is okay with having a number for nitrogen, but let's make it an indicator and not chiselled in granite. The whole scheme's viability hinges on this policy point.
"That will only happen if we show everyone just what Ruataniwha means to us.
"You can do that by making a slogan banner to hang off your vehicle this Friday at midday at Waipukurau's memorial hall car park," Foley says.
