Unfortunately, there is a worrying trend by some individuals or groups to rely on an incorrect narrative to justify extreme or controversial positions – what is commonly known as making stuff up.
Normally, I am happy to let the outraged howls from these individuals echo through mainstream and social media without feeling the need to respond.
The simple fact is they are a minority, out of step with mainstream public opinion.
However, the recent opinion column written by National Party MP Hamish Walker, upset that Fish and Game is doing the job Parliament has given it, can’t go unanswered.
This is especially so when Walker and I recently corresponded on this issue and he is well aware of my responses to his criticisms, yet ignored those answers in his column.
Like all Members of Parliament Walker has been elected to represent his whole electorate.
As the recent opinion poll conducted for Fish and Game by Colmar Brunton shows, 82% of New Zealanders rate the poor water quality in our rivers, lakes and streams as a major concern and want polluters held accountable.
This nationwide result was gathered from rural and urban dwellers so it is a safe bet most voters in Walker’s Clutha-Southland electorate want better water quality.
Walker tries to attack the result by questioning the poll’s credibility, pointing to a Colmar Brunton poll done for the Ministry for the Environment, which didn’t put water as New Zealanders’ number one concern.
That poll was done in April 2018 to gauge New Zealanders’ concerns about climate change and water quality and the findings did put the climate ahead of water.
The bit that Walker leaves out is that the poll also found 82% of those surveyed believe it is very or extremely important to improve water quality in lakes and rivers – 82 percent.
That figure seems remarkably consistent with what the Colmar Brunton poll done for Fish and Game found nearly eight months later.
I am also surprised by Walker’s criticism of Fish and Game for highlighting the environmental damage caused by unacceptable winter break-feeding practices that leave waterways brown with sediment and animals bogged up to their bellies in mud.
He seems to be suggesting we just look the other way but ignoring such environmental abuse won’t help and neither will making excuses.
Just to show the depth of feeling out there about the impact these bad practices are having on the industry, consider this quote: “The days when it was acceptable for animals to stand in mud and water, being break-fed during winter without a place to sit or lie down are over.”
That blunt, forward-thinking and pragmatic statement is from a recent Farmers Weekly article written by farmer and Beef + Lamb environmental reference group member Roger Dalrymple.
It is exactly the sort of no-nonsense leadership the farming sector needs and I would suggest Walker adopts a similar approach when dealing with those people in his constituency who don’t want to abandon environmentally harmful agriculture.
Despite what Walker claims, Fish and Game is not anti-farming. It is anti-polluter.
Agriculture is vital to this country’s prosperity and contributes significantly to the economy we all rely on.
But that contribution cannot be at the expense of the environment and pollution of our rivers and lakes.
Most politicians now recognise this.
A recently issued party policy discussion document on the environment puts it well;
“Environmental issues are too important to be left to the fringe of politics. These are core issues for NZ … we cannot prioritise short-term economic gain at the expense of the environment.”
I recommend Walker reads the document to bring himself up to speed with current political thinking on environmental issues such as water quality. It is easily found on the front page of the National Party’s website and is called Our Environment Discussion Document.
