Monday, 12 July 2021, 2:17 pm
Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard says he’s
not surprised frustration and anger about the deluge of new
regulations and costs from central government is spilling
over into protest meetings.
On Friday farmers in a
number of districts around New Zealand are rounding up dog
teams and firing up utes and tractors to head into their
nearest town for peaceful protest rallies.
In his
speech to the Federated Farmers National Council in
Christchurch last week, Andrew referred to a winter of
discontent in rural communities, with the so-called ute tax
a straw that broke the camel’s back for many farming
Brook Sabin/Stuff
Some West Coasters are calling the policy a “land grab”, which will lock up land and prevent any development. (File photo) Mayor Jamie Cleine and deputy Sharon Roche are also members of the Te Tai O Poutini Plan Committee responsible for writing a one district plan for the region. The pair did not vote with the committee when it decided to reject a report on the issue which included a map of potential SNAs. They wrote to Shaw and Nanaia Mahuta to call for open dialogue and compensation for West Coasters. The report showed the majority of the native vegetation on the West Coast was a potential SNA, the pair said. The issue was causing a “great deal of anxiety”, they said.
Shaw was discussing the Government’s National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, which contains objectives and policies to identify, protect, manage and restore indigenous biodiversity. Groundswell NZ spokesperson Bryce McKenzie said the group would meet with Shaw, although he doubted he would take up the invitation. “We’d love to show him what farmers are up against,’’ he said. Mooney said if the Greens Party co-leader had bothered to visit his electorate and had met with Southland farmers and seen the extensive and positive environmental work they were doing he would not have made such a tone-deaf outburst.
Robyn Edie/Stuff
ACT would remove the
requirement for councils to identify Significant Natural
Areas through the National Policy Statement for Indigenous
Biodiversity,” says Mr Seymour.
“In addition, we
would create a $10 million fund to provide funding for local
biodiversity initiatives, such as the work undertaken by the
Queen Elizabeth II trust.
“Private property rights
are under threat thanks to the Government’s directive to
councils to identify and manage SNAs.
“Farmers, iwi
and all property owners are worried that their land will be
taken from them if the council rezones
it.
“Protecting biodiversity is a goal shared by all
New Zealanders. But SNAs undermine private property rights
Press Release – ACT New Zealand The ACT Party can today release the Governments agenda when it comes to fishing policy, says ACT Leader David Seymour. ACT has been leaked a document from Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker which outlines the papers he is about …
“The ACT Party can today release the Government’s agenda when it comes to fishing policy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“ACT has been leaked a document from Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker which outlines the papers he is about to take to Cabinet.
“Parker plans to take seven papers to Cabinet which outline a range of initiatives, from new marine reserves and mandatory monitoring of boats in New Zealand waters with cameras.