Editorial: Battle lines drawn

While National feels they have done enough for farmers by repealing unfair regulations piled on by the previous Labour government, methane reduction targets are becoming a thorn in the side of National, the main party in the coalition Government. More so, when the two junior coalition partners, ACT and NZ First, aren't warming up to the Paris climate agreement.

Adopted in 2015, the deal relies on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), where each country sets its own emission reduction targets and commits to actions to adapt to climate change impacts.

Farmers are making their views clear: scores of billboards are being ordered from Groundswell's website and going up on farms near state highways across the country. These farmers suspect that any target National sets will lead to, among other things, more productive sheep and beef land converted to forestry.

Groundswell leader Bryce McKenzie says National is getting irritated by their 'Quit Paris' campaign. But he says they are getting a sympathetic hearing from NZ First and ACT.

He expects both the smaller parties to make their positions clearer closer to the election.

NZ First has expressed reservations about the Paris Agreement, specifically questionung the clarity and achievability of its targets. ACT leader and deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has hinted they could make withdrawing NZ from the Paris Accord an ACT election promise next year.

For National, the dilemma is two-fold: Firstly, the rural-urban divide, where many urban voters want to see action on climate change and leaving the Paris deal could alienate voters. Secondly, within the farming community, there's a growing number of voters who want NZ out of the Paris Agreement, just like the US has done under Donald Trump's presidency.

The Government has secured the backing of industry-good organisations, who are calling for NZ to stick with the Paris deal, but it's the farmer votes that will count come election day next year.