Thursday, 05 September 2024 10:18

'Putting common sense back in the room'

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
ACT MP Mark Cameron ACT MP Mark Cameron

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.

More like this

Taxonomy talk

OPINION: Is the Government's taxonomy proposal dead in the water?

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:

NZ growers lead freshwater compliance

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through its Growing Change project.

Keep it up

OPINION: The good fight against "banking wokery" continues with a draft bill to scrap the red tape forcing banks and financial institutions to make climate-related disclosures, by repealing Part 7A of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

Editorial: Long overdue!

OPINION: The Government's latest move to make freshwater farm plans more practical and affordable is welcome, and long overdue.

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Faking it

OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best…

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter