Tuesday, 12 December 2023 09:55

Days of over-regulation over!

Written by  Sudesh Kissun

The days of farmers facing an avalanche of regulations around how they farm will be a thing of the past, says National's new Northland MP Grant McCallum.

The sheep, beef and dairy farmer told Dairy News that the new coalition Government will work with farmers.

"We will give them a challenge, then we'll sit down with them and work together to find solutions. The days of ramming through legislation without proper consultation are over."

McCallum says farmers were under enormous but unwanted pressure from the last government.

"The volume of change and the way the previous government went about it was appalling. We will bring the farming sector into the tent and work through issues with them."

He points to work being done in water catchments in some parts of the country, where farmers work together with other stakeholders within the catchment and successfully work through issues.

"This is what farmers want; we are pretty innovative and very good at things we do."

McCallum, a first-time MP, thanked the people of Northland for putting their faith in him.

He says the electorate covers both farming and urban communities and he will be working for everyone.

McCallum has a farm at Maungaturoto that used to run 5000 ewes but now milks 500 cows and rears 300 bulls. He has lived in Northland since the late 1970s and has contributed to local organisations and community groups since then.

"I love Northland and, as its local MP, I'll be laser-focused on issues that matter, like the cost of living," he says.

"National also backs farmers. As a farmer myself, I understand the significant contribution farmers make to the economy and to Kiwis, both here in Northland and across the country.

"With National, I look forward to advocating for farmers and farming communities to reduce their regulatory burden and costs and let them get on with doing what they do best - leading the world in innovative farming practices that help to drive New Zealand forward."

Grant serves as chair of the Kauri Museum at Matakohe and has been a member of the Bluegreens executive since 2001. In the past, he has served as vice president of the Northern branch of Federated Farmers and on the boards of several Northland sporting organisations.

Grant holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Agriculture from Lincoln University.

More like this

Air Miles

OPINION: The latest travel receipts for MPs are in (April – June 2024).

Give it back!

OPINION: Most of the country's wage slaves will welcome the extra coin left in their wallets thanks to National's tax cuts.

Crazy

OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.

Feds power!

OPINION: Your canine crusader reckons no single lobby group has had a bigger turnaround in fortunes than Federated Farmers since the election of the new coalition Government.

Featured

Creating a buzz on World Bee Day

The message for the 2025 World Bee Day is a call to action for sustainable practices that support bees, improve food security, and protect biosecurity in the face of mounting climate pressures.

NZ supports rules-based system

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters often describes NZ as a small and isolated nation situated 'just north of the penguins' but says in terms of global affairs, NZ and other small nations should be judged on the quality of their arguments and not the size of their military.

National

Top ag scientist to advise PM

A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.

Machinery & Products

Hose runner saves time and effort

Rakaia-based equipment manufacturer Pluck’s Engineering will soon start production of a new machine designed to simplify the deployment and retrieval…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Science fiction

OPINION: Last week's announcement of Prime Minister’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council hasn’t gone down too well in the…

Bye bye Paris?

OPINION: At its recent annual general meeting, Federated Farmers’ Auckland province called for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter