Thursday, March 28, 2024

Groundswell in it for the long haul

Neal Wallace
Groundswell organisers say continued farmer disgruntlement means the protest group is not about to go away.
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Groundswell organiser Bryce McKenzie says support from their urban cousins at the two protests held so far made farmers feel appreciated. Photo: Natwick

Groundswell organisers say continued farmer disgruntlement means the protest group is not about to go away.

One of the founders, Bryce McKenzie, says with details of the primary industry-wide climate change agreement He Waka Eke Noa about to unleash new rules and regulations, farmer anger is growing not diminishing.

He says they feel that their interests are not being advocated for strongly enough or that they are not being listened to by primary sector groups, politicians and bureaucrats.

Feedback following Sunday’s protests in 70 centres nationwide indicates there is still farmer momentum behind the cause.

“The feedback from around NZ is that people have had enough, they are not being treated with respect by the Government,” he said.

McKenzie says support from their urban cousins at the two protests held so far made farmers feel appreciated.

“If it has done one thing, it has enabled farmers to stand up and feel pride with what we do again,” he said.

McKenzie could not say how many people took part in Sunday’s protests, but estimates that with those in vehicles along with people on footpaths, 100,000 people nationally could have been involved.

On Thursday McKenzie and fellow Groundswell founder Laurie Paterson are heading to Wellington to deliver letters written by supporters asking Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor to stand up more for farmers.

They will be greeted at Parliament by tractors and sheep dogs.

McKenzie says O’Connor is not going to be there, so they are hoping to meet with fellow Labour MP Stuart Nash who last week accused Groundswell of being “a mixture of racism, anti-vax, etcetera”.

McKenzie says Nash’s outburst emboldened interest in the protest.

Group leaders intend to take their protest to Wellington early next year and McKenzie says regional organisers were enthused and invigorated by Sunday’s support to arrange the protest, most likely in February or March.

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