North Canterbury News: September 28, 2023
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NEWS<br />
8 The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>September</strong> <strong>28</strong>, <strong>2023</strong><br />
Drive 4Change getting plenty of support<br />
By JOHN COSGROVE<br />
Groundswell cofounders Southland<br />
farmers Bryce McKenzie and Laurie<br />
Paterson havebeen amazedatthe positive<br />
response theyhave received from<br />
everyone they havemet on their way to<br />
Auckland on tractors.<br />
The Drive 4Change is aimed at<br />
protestingthe cripplingoverload of<br />
regulations, red tape,and layers of<br />
bureaucracyheaped on to food producers'<br />
everyday businesses.<br />
‘‘I’vebeen surprised at theturnout,’’<br />
says Laurie.<br />
‘‘As we drive along there arepeople<br />
standing at intersections and in paddocks,<br />
and passingcars are tootingand waving<br />
their support.’’<br />
The pairare driving their tractors from<br />
Invercargill to Auckland, finishingwith an<br />
event at EllerslieRacecourse at 1pm on<br />
Sunday, October 1.<br />
‘‘It’spressurethat has pushed our<br />
farmers past the tippingpoint of what they<br />
can mentally and financially sustain,’’ says<br />
Bryce.<br />
The pairknow it’sabusytime for<br />
farmers right now and say theyhave been<br />
humbled by the numbers that havejoined<br />
their column.<br />
‘‘We’ve had from two to 25 tractors and<br />
utes, at times join us for ashort while on<br />
the road,’’says Laurie.<br />
Otherslike Clintonfarmer PeterWilson<br />
have joinedthem for the durationoftheir<br />
South Island journeytoPicton.<br />
‘‘I wanted to show my support so my son<br />
loanedmehis brand new tractor for the<br />
trip.<br />
‘‘It hasn’t even seenapaddock yet, it’s<br />
that new.’’<br />
Amberley businessmen Warren<br />
Johnstone and MikeWildinggreeted the<br />
tractor drivers with cups of hot coffee<br />
when they arrived at Amberley on Monday<br />
morning as more than 60 people gathered<br />
Well done ... Groundswell cofounder and Southland farmer Bryce McKenzie is welcomed by Beverley Forrester of Leithfield, to<br />
Amberley on his Drive 4Change, tractor protest drive to Auckland.<br />
PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE<br />
to welcome the convoy.<br />
Beverley ForresterofLeithfield,says<br />
she has beenfollowing the protest since<br />
theyleft Invercargill and had come to<br />
showher support.<br />
Bryce toldthe crowdthey were happy<br />
with the response and turn out they are<br />
getting.<br />
He saidthey are discoveringthey have a<br />
huge support base,not only fromthe<br />
nations farmersbut also withtown and<br />
city folk.<br />
‘‘We want peopletovote this election, to<br />
make positive choicesand changes as we<br />
depend on each other.<br />
‘‘If the rural communities are feeling the<br />
pinch, then so are the city people, and they<br />
know where their food comes from.’’<br />
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