Don't hold back!
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding nothing back when ‘climate scientists’ had a crack at Kiwi farmers recently:
ACT MP Mark Cameron says the Government is bringing common sense “back in the room” by halting the rollout of freshwater farm plans.
He told Rural News that the Government has listened to the constituents whereas the previous Government hadn’t.
The Government says it will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised.
Several regions have already started implementing freshwater farm plans in specific areas, including Waikato, Southland, the West Coast, Otago, and Manawatū-Whanganui, based on legislation passed by the previous Government.
Farmers have complained that the current system is too costly and not fit-for-purpose. The laws remain in place and council are required by law to seek freshwater farm plans from farmers.
The new Government intends to make minor amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) to enable the pause. Once these amendments are made, farmers will not be required to submit a freshwater farm plan for certification while changes to the freshwater farm plan system are underway.
Cameron says the council now have more certainty around the new Government’s intentions on freshwater management.
“We are steering the council to cease and desist, and they now have clarity that laws will change,” says Cameron.
“Until the laws change, the council are legally required to pursue freshwater farm plans however, the councils now know that we are changing the laws. We are putting common sense back in the room.”
Meanwhile Cameron, who is also chair of the primary production select committee and ACT MP Laura Trask are in Canterbury for public meetings.
They will be in Ashburton to hear from rural communities struggling with rules under the RMA Act, Freshwater Farm Plans, and Te Mana o te Wai.
“We will hear farmers’ experiences and concerns and take their insights to Wellington as the Government amends and replaces the RMA,” says Cameron.
The meeting at Ashburton Hotel starts at 6pm tomorrow, Friday September 6.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?