The Waimate and Waitaki District Councils have joined Federated Farmers, the Rural Support Trust, local stakeholders and the Ministry for Primary Industries to form a group to support M bovis affected farmers.
It follows recommendations two separate reviews done by MPI chief science adviser John Roche and disease management expert Roger Paskin for DairyNZ. Both recommended moving some responsibility to regional control centres and increasing local stakeholder engagement.
The group that met for the first time last week. It is jointly chaired by Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher and Waimate mayor Craig Rowley. It was modelled on a similar one set up in Ashburton as a trial following the pre-winter surge in the M bovis programme in April.
“My hope is we can be an effective group that fills the gap currently existing between farmers and MPI,” Kircher said.
“The strength of the group is that it includes knowledgeable and experienced people who are going through or have dealt with M bovis.
“We want to see an improvement in communication and feedback to farmers so that information from MPI is clearer, as consistent as possible and gives greater certainty in a more timely way.
“Decisions made by people who are seeing the issues directly will save time and angst,” Kircher said.
Waimate mayor Craig Rowley said “We’re very much rural service districts, farmers are our ratepayers and it’s really important we help to make the process of dealing with the disease as smooth and as stress-free as possible.”
One of three farmer representatives, Waimate dairy farmer John Gregan believes personal contact for farmers through group will provide the missing link in the chain.
“The group will shine more light on farmers, offer a personal approach and give MPI appropriate feedback, putting support around the farmer when needed.”
Gregan said too many people stirring the pot has potential to slow the processes and feed misinformation.
“This will bridge the gap that’s been there between farmers and MPI and a big part of the gap has been the lack of local knowledge,” Gregan said.
