Waikato AgriBusiness News October 2018

Last thing healthy waterways
need is element of doubt
With the Healthy Rivers Plan Change One hearings almost
upon us, it is disappointing to see the Government has thrown
a huge element of doubt into the equation with the recent
announcements of new fresh water legislation that will possibly
annul any outcome that could be achieved.
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Instigating a new version
of a National Policy
Statement on Fresh Water
(NPS-FM) and a new National
Environmental Standard on
water when we are so far down
this track is like moving the
goalposts for farmers and landowners,
especially when recent
studies have shown substantial
improvements in the chemistry
of our rivers and streams.
There has been a study that
shows a reduction in the Macro
Invertebrate Index, an indicator
of healthy water and ecosystems.
Farming critics again
move to blame agriculture, but
of course ignore all the great
riparian planting and wetland
creation that farmers have
done to get the initial improvements
we have seen.
Could it not be that the
small native fish and associated
life has been destroyed by
introduced species like trout
which are ironically protected
by the Resource Management
Act and NGOs like Fish and
Game.
Yet it is these NGOs who
will be given greater powers
in being able to draft up this
new freshwater legislation at
the expense of landowners and
industry… the Government
proclaims it has no idea why
business and farmer confidence
is plunging.
With the continued mixed
messaging around environmental
commitments and perceived
sustainability, agribusinesses
are struggling to budget
for the medium to long term
with so many new variables in
the mix.
Many of these costs will
have to be passed onto the
end consumer, but if we are
the only country in the world
imposing these new variable
costs onto our farmers then we
will find that we are uncompetitive
pricewise internationally
very quickly, and production
will shift offshore to more inefficient
producers who could
not care less about the environment.
This will have a damaging
impact on the world’s climate
and environment as more rainforests
are converted to food
producing regions - ruled over
by companies more than communities.
So, if we really want these
new production standards
imposed then we will also have
to accept the end of cheap food
along with cheap petrol. Get
used to the idea of paying $15
for a cabbage or $8 for a litre of
milk if it is to be home grown.
While I understand some
people’s impatience with rates
of change, please be aware
that complex things like water
improvement don’t happen
overnight, and the fact that we
are seeing substantial improvements
within a decade is testament
to farmer and landowner
By Andrew McGiven
Federated Farmers
Waikato President
engagement and commitment
to change to ensure our systems
are sustainable and world
leading so future generations
can enjoy a pristine and natural
landscape.
I would hate to see all this
good work undone by virtue
signalling legislation that
achieves nothing other than the
decimation of the rural community
and the natural guardians
of the environment.
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