Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

AGRICULTURE
Our vision
Primary production is a vital component of New Zealand's economy. We are a nation built
on the success of our primary sector and as a developed country endowed with an
abundance of water, fertile soils and clean air, our future as a producer of food to an
expanding world market also looks bright.
The challenges of scale, distance and capital can be offset through quality infrastructure,
structured collaboration and innovative marketing of New Zealand‟s products to the high
value traditional and emerging markets of the world. Our position in relation to the
increasingly affluent consumers in Asian countries should also provide an advantage to New
Zealand exporters into the future.
The challenge for a Labour Government is to facilitate growth in this traditional area of
economic activity through innovation and increasing quality rather than an ever expanding
system of low cost production. Primary sectors that have been proud to prosper without
subsidies or protection still require the appropriate level of recognition and support from
central and local government.
Labour in government is prepared to intervene and make the necessary changes to policy
and regulation to encourage more research, greater innovation and higher export returns.
We will develop clear achievable environmental measures that show our production is at the
leading edge of efficiency and resource utilisation.
Focusing on reducing environmental impacts should not be seen as a burden, rather a
necessary part of the shift to making New Zealand the first choice supplier of high quality,
sustainable and ethical primary produce to the world.
An innovative primary sector
New Zealand must lift its productivity if it is to continue to enjoy first world levels of
infrastructure and social services. Generating higher export returns and retaining more of
that wealth in the hands of New Zealanders is the only way we can secure that future. The
advantage of low cost production has gone and we must now lift sales of our primary
production into higher value markets and better capture those returns through integration of
the value chain.
That process will require higher levels of capital investment, greater investment in Research
and Development, improved environmental standards and a skilled and motivated workforce
at every level.
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