The High Country Accord Trust, representing high country farmers, has commissioned an economist to do the work, believing good policy needs to be informed by facts, Accord chairman and Lake Heron Station owner Philip Todhunter said.
The Government is considering proposals that will change the way the high country is farmed.
Farmers fear that could spell the end of high-country farming.
The proposals could have adverse effects, not only for the families who have carved out a living in the challenging landscape but also for the economy, he said.
“There is currently no economic analysis on what is proposed and no research on the impact on the land.
“Now’s the time for pragmatic, sensible policy to ensure the connection between the high country and the high street is preserved for future generations,” Todhunter said.
The Government’s legislative review proposes to end tenure review, the process for farmers to freehold land in exchange for other land permanently returning to the conservation estate.
“Farmers can live with ending tenure review. Most leaseholders have never gone into the process anyway, for a variety of reasons.”
But farmers are deeply concerned over time the new proposals will put increasing restrictions on the conditions attached to pastoral farming of high country.
“These will be restrictions that could go well beyond what is already in place via the Resource Management Act and what’s proposed in the pending national policy statements on indigenous biodiversity and freshwater.
“While the emphasis on the biodiversity is undoubtedly well-intentioned, the economic viability of these farms must also be maintained.
“You can’t be green if the farms are in the red,” Todhunter said.
“Management of land is complex, prescribing for certain outcomes by removing farming is simplistic and misguided.
“The fantasy of a gigantic conservation park where once there were viable farms is just that – a fantasy.
“It’s unaffordable, unrealistic and frankly insulting to the families who work so hard to keep the high country free of pests and weeds and in good shape for this and future generations.”
Todhunter said it’s disappointing the Accord is not part of detailed discussion on the document of enduring stewardship of Crown pastoral land.
“It’s very disappointing we have not been included. We are very willing to assist the Crown but we have not been part of detailed discussions.
“Anecdotally, what’s being proposed may actually have worse outcomes for the land and for the local and national economy.”
For that reason and believing good policy needs to be informed by facts, the Accord has commissioned a reputable economist to assemble, for the first time, a detailed statistical picture of the high country economy.
When the data is available it will be shared far and wide with news media, officials, politicians, researchers and others.
Farmers are also working with experts, including Canterbury University’s Professor David Norton whose innovative thinking on integrated farm management plans shows how farming, conservation and biodiversity can work together.
“Farmers have farmed and improved these high-country lands for the Government and all New Zealanders since the 1840s.
“Over this period high-country stations have been transformed in a way that sees productive farming, conservation and other beneficial activity combine.”
Todhunter cited Balmoral Station near Lake Tekapo as proof.
“Here, pastoral farming happens alongside weed and predator control, plant research and public access as shown by the tens of thousands of people who come through Balmoral’s farm gate every year to visit the famous Mt John observatory, which is smack bang in the middle of the farm.”
Maintaining the production of the wold-class Merino and meat products enjoyed by city dwellers here and overseas are the high-country farmers and their families.
“We think of this countryside as iconic and it is but alongside the postcard scenery is a lot of immensely hard work, tradition and stewardship of a precious environment that goes back for many generations of the families who live here,” Todhunter said.
