About 120 tractors descended on the Southland town in what one of the organisers Laurie Paterson says was as a show of unity against the unworkable aspects of the Government’s essential freshwater policies.
“It was a pretty successful day,” Paterson said.
“We showed farmers are prepared to stand together and that we feel insulted given all the work we are doing and have done on waterways when we get this overarching legislation plonked on top, which is unworkable.”
Farmers are especially angry at new rules for winter grazing and possible reactions were discussed at the rally.
Paterson says they variously discussed holding regional councils to account at their three-yearly election, ignoring the rules altogether or investigating if they can take legal action against Environment Minister David Parker.
Paterson did not know if there were legal grounds, but he says farmers have little respect for Parker.
“We think he has overstepped the mark of what his powers should be,” he said.
On his Waikaka farm Paterson winters his cows on hill country, which is stony and the soil conditions drier than on lower country.
Under the new slope and water rules, Paterson will have to winter them on heavy flat country, which would damage those soils.
“Trying to make rules for all of NZ is dumb,” he said.
Those living in urban centres need to get the message that the reforms are unworkable and they will be impacted by farmers forced to reduce stocking rates and less spending as farms adjust to comply.
Part of that messaging occurred in Invercargill on Friday at a Town and Country Hui, dubbed We All Live Off the Land.
Organised by Federated Farmers and the Southland Chamber of Commerce, the community fun day is designed as an exchange between urban and rural, including discussion on the impact of the freshwater reforms.
Paterson says they will assess the reaction of the community and the Government before deciding their next move.
