Friday, March 29, 2024

Govt missed policy opportunities

Neal Wallace
It is not so much specific policies that Nigel Woodhead will be looking for from political parties this election, but for politicians willing to work with the sector to implement their policies.
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The South Otago beef and sheep farmer says the Labour-NZ First Government has missed opportunities with policies such as water reforms by not working with farmers, growers and affected parties.

“I have not thought too much about specific policies but more about how food and fibre is produced,” Woodhead said.

Instead of taking industries with them, Woodhead says the Government has pursued a “this is what you must do approach” which has alienated the sector.

He contrasts the Government’s willingness to allow vegetable growers in Levin and Pukekohe to delay meeting lower nitrogen emission levels, with the rules and regulations the rest of the primary sector must meet.

“I have no problem with vegetable growers getting a lifeline, but why is it not okay for those producing food for export?” he asked.

Woodhead believes the next Government will achieve more by working with industry to solve issues and implement their policies.

“I think the current Government has missed an opportunity two or three times this term to take the industry with them.”

The Government’s Primary Sector Council, of which Woodhead is a member, was formed to find ways for the Government to work with the industry.

Woodhead is optimistic about the future of farming but says there are plenty of his cohorts who fear life could get harder at a time when the sector is expected to carry a greater weight of the country’s economic activity.

“Using policy as a bottom line but trying to drive policy to drive behaviour, only gets people’s backs up,” he said.

Given the renewed focus on the primary sector’s economic clout, having Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor ranked fourteenth in Cabinet is a surprise to Woodhead.

Having a higher ranked agriculture minister would assist the sector by giving it more influence and clout.

Policies Woodhead says the parties need to address include how they will enable essential workers from overseas such as machinery operators to enter the country.

Woodhead says the reality is that experienced machine operators from Europe are needed for the coming season.

It is a system that has traditionally worked well by providing a pool of experienced foreign workers to work in NZ during their off-season.

Similarly, he would like to see plans to enable international students back into the country.

“Things like that that allow money to flow into NZ,” Woodhead said.

Woodhead also wants to see policies on water, saying when elected the Government stopped all assistance with irrigation schemes, but that position changed towards the end of its term when Primary Growth Funds were made available.

“Water is a huge issue. We have plenty of it but we need it at the right place at the right time.”

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