The meeting, run by Environment Ministry officials, was supposed to cover freshwater quality, highly productive land use, urban development, hazardous waste disposal and waste minimisation but the more than 200 people there ensured the focus never really deviated from freshwater policy though there was a brief overview at the end on measures to protect highly productive land.
Ministry deputy secretary Anne Haira said impacts of the freshwater proposals will differ around the country and meetings are being held to get local understandings of those affects and take that information back to decision makers in Wellington.
The ministry’s chief policy adviser Brian Smith ran through what he said were some of the big ticket items in the policy before he took questions from the floor.
The questions reflected farmer frustration and dismay, with a simmering anger not far away for some.
Many of the questions focused on how the proposals’ one-size-fits-all approach is unrealistic and unfair and Smith acknowledged it will not be possible to regulate centrally for everything.
He was not surprised by considerable feedback on the potential for farmers to have to move existing fence so five to 15 years was proposed for farmers to do it.
Some farmers said compliance costs have been grossly understated by the Government while others said councils will need to employ a lot more staff to monitor the new rules.
Those people will be a whole new industry in themselves and it will be farmers who have to pay for them – either directly or through rates.
Feilding farmer and Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council (Horizons) environment committee chairman Gordon McKellar said everyone, including farmers, wants better water quality but the one-size-fits-all approach will turn a lot of good work that has already been done on its head.
And in some situations the new rules are stupid.
Whangaehu/Mangawhero water catchment group member Mike Cranstone said the Government has no appreciation of the work many farmers have already done to reduce their environmental footprint.
When Horizons tried to enforce its One Plan with a big stick it was shown that approach did not work, instead resulting in a loss of common sense and farmer support.
Woodhaven Gardens, Levin, director Jay Clarke questioned the impact on vegetable growers.
On one hand the Government is telling people they should eat more fresh vegetables for their health but on the other its plans are likely to hurt the supply and affordability of fresh vegetables and the economic viability of the people growing them.
Massey University freshwater ecologist Professor Russell Death, who is a member of the Freshwater Technical Advisory Group that in June provided government officials with a series of recommendations on freshwater management, said from the floor the proposals are an opportunity for farmers.
He understands many farmers are doing a lot of good work around water quality but export markets are not seeing or hearing about it.
Putting standards in place it will show markets NZ primary products are produced within clean, green guidelines – which will help farmers.
