increase font size
Katie Milne.
Federated Farmers says it is gearing up to assist members and farmers as local authorities start revealing their long term plans and budgets.
Feds says over the next two months it will make 68 submissions nationwide. It has prepared a policy guide to help its 24 provinces navigate council plans, with particular focus on rates.
“Our members and farmers pay a lot of money in rates, which can be among their highest overheads,” says Feds president Katie Milne.
She says this year is especially significant as local government faces big challenges on funding infrastructure in response to high population growth, but in some cases decline.
“Farmers are already paying big rates for essential items like local road networks, and are wondering what councils will come up with this time round,” Milne says.
“We want to make sure any new projects are both justified and funded appropriately.”
Milne says Feds has noticed a “disturbing trend” in council long term plans now out for consultation.
“While it’s early days, with a dozen or so long term plans out for consultation, we’re seeing significant rate increases for farmers, such as the 23.5% increase on rural communities proposed by Manawatu District Council and an overall rate increase of 12% for Bay of Plenty Regional Council ratepayers.”
She says Feds is also worried about the cost to local authorities of their activities other than core services, such as tourism promotion and economic development.
A rare weather double-whammy has seen many South Island farmers having to deal with unseasonal snow while still cut off from power supplies after an unprecedented windstorm.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
