increase font size
The Government's proposal to establish a Ministerial Advisory Committee steps on local government, says Federated Farmers Auckland provincial president Andrew Maclean.
Farmers want the Government to back off local government in the Hauraki Gulf and let the people decide their futures.
Federated Farmers Auckland provincial president Andrew Maclean says the Government proposes to establish a Ministerial Advisory Committee to implement the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan (aka Sea Change), “clearly stepping on local government”.
"This move is just the latest assault on local democracy from central Government."
Matters to do with the impact of land use on water quality in coastal waters are the domain of local government, regional councils, through Resource Management Act (RMA) processes.
"Why have local government at all if they’re just going to be pushed aside?"
Water quality issues that potentially impact the Hauraki Gulf are well addressed through council plans, Maclean says.
He was speaking on behalf of the Federated Farmers provinces affected by the Government’s latest proposal - Auckland, Waikato and Hauraki-Coromandel.
"There are still questions about how Sea Change will fit in around all the other legislation and how it can be made fair for all that it will effect. Will those local concerns be looked at by the central government body?
"The Government should be wary of trying to impose a ‘one size fits all’ set of regulations over the two regions impacted. Even adjacent sub-catchments can have completely different sets of problems that require tailored solutions. We have learned that those solutions are best addressed by local communities and the councils that represent them. It would be a mistake to dictate a package deal of recommendations."
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
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.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
Ravensdown shareholders have elected Jane Montgomery and Kate Acland to the Ravensdown Board for three-year terms, following a closely contested director election.
Federated Farmers says new legislation replacing the Resource Management Act will cut red tape, unlock investment and help grow New Zealand's export-led economy, after the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill passed their third reading in Parliament yesterday.
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…
