Compared with major dairying districts the number of dairy units in Hawke’s Bay is low, but every year there are more farms, many with large herds, and more production. Already in districts such as Taharua, Tutira, Patoka and on the western side of Central Hawke’s Bay dairy farming is a significant use of our land resource.
With the probable advent of the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, a major initiative and work of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, dairying in Hawke’s Bay is on the cusp of a major boost. About 25,000ha of land will be available for irrigation and on current projections about 35% of this will go to dairying with other irrigated land utilised for dairy support.
Whatever the final figure for the use of newly irrigated land turns out to be, there is no doubt that dairying will play a much increased role in Hawke’s Bay’s future. In the community there is hope being expressed that in the not too distant future, with a ready access to the port of Napier, a dairy processing plant may be established in Central Hawke’s Bay.
Accepting the realities of farming in today’s world, this growth in dairying will need to be carefully managed.
Management will be a regulatory function of the regional council who will need to be fair and reasonable in what, and how, it regulates as it will be required to pay due regard to both environmental needs and economic benefits of the region.
The council’s policy of “education and encouragement before regulation” has served this region well over many years and one would hope that thinking will continue drive the council’s decision makers.
It was regrettable that the council elections of last October were fought by a single issue grouping of corporate fruit growers (known as GAG), who many thought appeared to be motivated by self interest. GAG financed a ticket of four candidates whose understanding and knowledge of dairying was either minimal or non-existent. When questioned at a pre-election meeting about dairying in Hawke’s Bay, the GAG candidates showed a woeful ignorance of dairy farming in general and presented considerable prejudice against the industry.
By the use of negative campaigning methods and copious amounts of money (as indicated in the candidate’s statutory returns), the four grower candidates were elected, taking out two councillors who had over many years worked to see that the views of Hawke’s Bay dairy farmers were represented and when decisions were made their businesses were not unfairly disadvantaged.
There is now a huge void at the council table, and dairy farmers need to be aware of this. Now is not too soon to be thinking about who needs to be sitting at the decision-making table for amongst the current clamour for council amalgamation an election may not be all that far away.
Kevin J Rose
JP and former regional councillor
Hastings.
