Labour Vows to Change Tact on How to Handle Freshwater Rules

However, Labour’s agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says the rules will be used as “a starting point” to take to a select committee.

Luxton made the comments at the Rural Leaders Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton this week.

About 300 farmers attended the event, organised by Federated Farmers, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ,

Luxton says Labour has no plans to bring back the rules which were roundly rejected by farmers.

“The start point is not the end point because whatever we do with the freshwater space, we need to make sure that it is practical and workable for farmers,” she says.

“Everybody wants clean drinking water and clean rivers, and we do have to make sure that we are working towards that because it's not our generation, it's our children, and their children are going to be the ones that deal with anything that we do now and the decisions that we make.

“So, I want to make it clear that we'll go through a full select committee process so that everybody can have their say and whatever comes out of it, we'll make sure that it is workable and practical for farmers and rural communities.”

But National’s Todd McClay pounced on Luxton’s comments, reminding her that people rejected the rules even as a starting point and they did this by voting Labour out of office in 2023.

“So, where will it end up? What's the end point going to be?

“You're saying: we're only going to do something that you know you don't like”.

Luxton replied that no matter the outcome, “we will ensure that it is workable and practical for farmers”.

Debate host, Heather du Plessis-Allan asked Luxton what would be different from ‘the end point’ a new Labour-led government was trying to achieve and what former Labour Environment Minister David Parker achieved in 2022.

Luxton says they aren’t going to say, “this is what we must do”.

“We're going to say this is where we start. We want to hear from you, find out what's workable, find out what's achievable, while ensuring that we maintain sustainable rivers.”

Du Plessis-Allan then asked about how united Labour was on the path to take on water reforms.

She pointed out to Luxton that there's friction within the Labour caucus “on a bunch of things where you guys are pulling at each other and trying to figure out where the policy position is”.

“Is Rachel Brooking (Labour environment spokesperson) in agreement with you or is she with David Parker?

Luxton replied that Brooking agreed with her.

“Actually, she's spent the last three years getting out on the farm as well: getting to understand the intricacies that are involved in the farming sector.”