Promoting that divide is in the interests of groups like Greenpeace, who can emotively slag off the agricultural sector for one farmer’s minor misdemeanour in a single location. It gains them revenue and that is their aim.
My cynicism is compounded by the fact you never hear a supportive statement from them about the many things we do right.
The divide is also promoted by some in the Green Party, who obviously believe that by pillorying farmers for whatever reason they can appeal to the shallow urban liberal greenie.
Sadly, science does not enter the debate as witnessed by the Greens’ extraordinary position over irrigation.
So I accept there’s an urban-rural divide in some parts of our society promoted by those groups.
Society is like that. Think of the mindless bigotry over skin colour, religion and political persuasion and apply that to our current wave of anti-farmer rhetoric.
What I don’t accept is that it is a feature for grassroots Kiwis.
To give you an example: Two years ago I wrote about the little village of Tinui, half an hour from Masterton on the road to Castlepoint.
Tinui’s claim to fame is that it was the first place in the world to have held an ANZAC Day service and erect a memorial to the fallen at Gallipoli.
Back in 1914 there were more than 2000 single men based around Tinui. Now, less than 20 live in the village yet over 1000 people turn up for the ANZAC service.
Many of those leave the cities to come to the small rural haven of Tinui to celebrate ANZAC Day. Everyone mixes, there’s no discussion about the state of our rivers or agricultural emissions. It is about the event, the things that are important to people and of course ANZAC.
Everyone is treated to a sumptuous morning tea provided by the Tinui Women’s Institute. It is amazing.
There were visitors from Auckland, Christchurch, Tasmania, New Plymouth, the USA and Auckland that I was aware of.
As they say, if you can’t get to Gallipoli, you’re welcome at Tinui.
There’s a Ball – a Royal Affair, at Tinui on May 12th for those who missed an invitation to the Harry and Meghan do.
What really pleased me is that courtesy of the weather we couldn’t get the 4.5 kilometre track to the cross right for ANZAC Day.
We phoned Wairarapa Young Farmers and they stepped up to the plate quickly and without fuss.
A crew arrived complete with scrub bars, chain saws, spades and grubbers plus all the safety gear and went to work and work they did.
Politicians who sit in Wellington and criticise New Zealand youngsters for being idle and on drugs should be made to spend some time with Young Farmers. They’d learn a lot.
The work ethic of the group was exemplary. I was working with Tom and Emma who were on scrub bars and both knew how to use them. The track was professionally cleared in a lot less time than we estimated.
Having a chat afterwards was a real pleasure. They were a relaxed and together bunch of young people who knew exactly which way was up.
The Army in the form of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles attended the service and mixed with visitors and locals afterwards.
Like Young Farmers they were a group of well-mannered, totally together people who were happy serving our rural community.
On the Friday before ANZAC Day an Army Cricket Team, the General’s X1, came to Tinui to play the local Tinui All Stars. The Army won by the narrowest of margins, 187 to 184, and it was a great game.
In an interview with the Wairarapa News Chief of Army, General Peter Kelly, said the game of cricket was part of efforts to maintain relationship with the grass roots communities who contributed so much to ANZAC remembrance.
“Tinui’s claim to fame is that it was the first place in the world to commemorate ANZAC Day in 1916,” he said.
A small farming community lost 12 of their own in that preceding year and decided to mark the occasion and put a bloody big cross up the hill there for posterity.
“This annual fixture is a way for us to say to the people of Tinui, we really appreciate what your forbears did.”
That to me is important.
Two years ago the Army made the track to the cross all-weather by building steps and culverts. Despite the most appalling weather everything they did has held up.
It will be great to have them back to further improve the track.
The Wairarapa business sector and the local council have also been most generous in their support.
Those are the things that are important.
