Greenpeace gave scant acknowledgement of the role of irrigation or that farmers were reducing their environmental footprint.
The group’s true agenda was laid bare soon after the meeting in a press release that was understanding of Auckland dumping millions of cubic metres of raw sewage into the harbour each year while again admonishing the dairy industry.
Curtis said it showed Greenpeace was a fundraising body determined to protect its Auckland funding base.
“That point was highlighted by the press release this week about Auckland sewage flowing into the harbour which said it was a concern but not majorly because the Auckland Council recognised it is an issue.
“Contrast that with its view of dairy farming and the irrigation industry, which is that there is no acknowledgement they have an issue and are doing nothing to improve the water quality.
“It grated with us. It was a broadside.”
More than half of Auckland’s 110 overflow drain outlets discharge raw sewage into the Waitemata Harbour more than 50 times a year and one spot alone overflowed every time it rained.
It would reportedly cost $3 billion to fix with work starting next year and taking 10 years to complete but it would reduce the overflow by only 80%.
In its press release Greenpeace campaigner Steve Abel said “In Auckland there seems to be an across the board acceptance that we have a sewage problem matched by a willingness from council and ratepayers to tackle the issue even if it costs billions.
“Greenpeace would welcome a similar acceptance and willingness from the dairy industry, which still seems to be in a state of denial with the likes of DairyNZ and Irrigation NZ planning new irrigation schemes that will drive an increase in the number of dairy cows.”
Curtis said the Greenpeace activists told him there were too many dairy cows and they opposed irrigation because it led to more dairy cows and intensive beef farming.
“They didn’t seem to believe that a range of other activities happened.”
They wanted a low-input, eco-farming model but Curtis said they were not clear what they meant nor was there any acknowledgement that organic and biodynamic farming systems required irrigation.
Curtis said they also refused to accept their constant attacks were affecting farmers who followed best practice or that resolving water quality issues required a community effort.
He was of the view that Greenpeace needed a wedge between urban and rural communities to protect its funding lines.
