Thursday, 12 October 2023 08:55

Editorial: Time for change

Written by  Staff Reporters
Election day is only a few days away. Election day is only a few days away.

OPINION: With election day only a few days away and advance voting well underway, there appears to be a mood for change in rural and provincial New Zealand.

The last election saw a number of regional seats turn red on the back of Labour's Covid response and the complete disarray that the National Party was in back in September 2020.

However, it is clear that most of the Labour MPs currently occupying these provincial seats will be looking for employment come October 15. There won't be too many tears shed in rural NZ about this.

That's hardly surprising considering the majority of farmers and rural people would view the current Labour Government as one of the worst the primary sector has ever had to deal with.

It has not only been its legislative agenda, that has seen a myriad of costly regulations imposed on the sector, but also the current administration's tin ear when it comes to listening to the concerns expressed by farmers.

The Labour Government's 'we know best' attitude - personified by Environment Minister David Parker and the constant haranguing of farmer by Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor for daring to criticise the burdensome regulatory regime - will have many farmers waiting with pen in hand at the voting booth to send it a clear message.

It can only be hoped that if a new government is elected, the number of farmer candidates in both National and ACT will bring a more farmer-centric view to government policies directed at the rural sector.

As a Beef + Lamb NZ recent report highlighting the cumulative effects of the Government's environmental reform agenda shows, it has created significant administrative and financial burden for farmers.

As chief executive Sam McIvor says, this report reinforces BLNZ's calls for the new government - no matter which political party wins the general election - to press pause on rules and review current or proposd rules to ensure they're fit for purpose.

The winds of hange appear to be blowing in rural NZ and a likely end to the Labour-led regime of the past six years will not be moured by many in the regional heartland.

More like this

Every exhibitor with something valuable to offer for farmers

OPINION: Welcome to the second annual NZ Dairy Expo at Matamata – an event created to bring together the best of the New Zealand dairy industry in a focused, grassroots environment where dairy farmers and rural professionals can meet, talk, compare products, and make smart decisions for their farms.

Air Miles

OPINION: The latest travel receipts for MPs are in (April – June 2024).

Red meat sector battles on

It's a bloody tough year for sheep farmers, but the worst may be over, and the future looks optimistic.

Cunning plan!

OPINION: Leader of the Labour Party and His Majesty's Loyal Opposition, Chris Hipkins, has formulated a bold strategy to regain power that his rivals won't have predicted.

Featured

DairyNZ seeks more cash

For the first time in 17 years, DairyNZ wants farmers to contribute more cash to run the industry-good organisation.

EPA's plan 'not good enough'

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is bolstering its frontline applications teams in a bid to reduce the timeframe for new product applications, but agri chemical producers say that it isn't good enough.

Fonterra urged to seek extension to GMO bill consultation

With less than a week to go before submissions close on the Government’s controversial Gene Technology Bill, two agribusiness executives - John Greenberg and Michael Henne - are calling on Fonterra to demand an extension to the submission period.

National

Good season for apples

Brydon Nisbet, the president of Hawke's Bay Fruit Growers Federation, says the mood of growers in Hawke's Bay is quite…

Machinery & Products

Loosening soil without fuss

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, Grange Farm Machinery is based in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire – an…

JCB unveils new models

The first of the UK’s agricultural trade shows was recently held at the NEC Centre in Birmingham.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Who's the glutton?

OPINION: We are told there is a wine glut - production outstripping demand worldwide - and the words 'wine lakes'…

Colonial science?

OPINION: Science funding for the bulwark of the nation, agriculture, is in a parlous state and less taxpayer money is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter