Friday, March 29, 2024

THE VOICE: Meat – The farmers’ perspective

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The diverse life of those who make their living producing meat or have the commitment to hunt successfully has never been shown in as an uncensored a version as the upcoming documentary MEAT.
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I have been lucky enough to preview and give my opinion on this film directed by David White, which will hit our cinema screens on May 4.

The people who get to tell their unscripted, uncensored, stories of everyday life as a farmer or hunter-gatherer are as close to the bone as possible when it comes to the real reason each one of them chose the path they have to live their lives.

Within five minutes of the film starting the hairs on the back of your neck will be standing at full attention no matter what your beliefs are around the production or the consumption of meat.

If you’re in the game of producing animal protein for world markets or a vegan/vegetarian you will be wondering where the documentary is heading.

From the producers’ point of view the early questions will be “Gee this is a bit raw, I wonder if it’s a bridge too far or will it be too controversial for the world to see?”

For those who abstain from eating meat and animal products their first thoughts will be “Can I sit through the full documentary and does this confirm my belief as to why I choose to abstain?”

Once past the initial opening statement the tide turns as each facet or storyline unfolds.

There’s the raw-boned mountain man who hunts for his family and who can’t stomach the thought of processed products in cling film, the pig farmer who, above all his financial success, has never lost the passion for his animals and for what he produces despite being in an industry that has been portrayed as lowly as possible by animal welfare activists.

Then the female sheep farmer who does not bring the feminine touch anywhere near her daily life and is bloody proud of the fact she has footed it with the boys and still does as she farms in a way that many would describe as heavy manual labour.

The final story shows the kind-hearted, converted townie chicken farmer who has mastered the supply chain and shows the ingenuity of those who choose to make the best of all they have at their disposal.

I’ll be honest as a farmer and supporter of the primary industry, those in the meat game will see a few shots I think might go against the way other farmers would approach some tasks, they might also feel aggrieved at the hunter’s revolt against the modern industry.

The animal welfare activists might choose to abstract and take some of the footage out of context but no-one who watches the film – and I mean actually takes it in – will be able to ignore the passion, hard work and commitment each person featured has for their role in life.

An underlying disappointment at the way the modern world wastes much of the food produced or naturally sourced is portrayed by every one of these four stories.

The love and pride each person has in their role on the land can never be questioned and viewers will have to make up their minds as to how they feel about the food they eat knowing the commitment and skin in the game each one of these and many farmers have.

This documentary will be hard-hitting and very inflammatory to many viewers and will leave many in the industry either proud or perhaps worried consumers might not want that amount of knowledge about the product on their plate.

Either way, we will have a cost-free poll and result on social media starting straight after its release.

And it will be released.

I suggest you take the significant other out for the night and watch this version of rural New Zealand in its natural form and be totally informed as to which way you will feel when the press or social media join the debate.

Credit must go to the director and his team for their hands-off approach to allow those featured to tell their stories warts and all.

It’s a bold move and it will be interesting to see where the general public rests on its perception of the topics covered.

I do hope for all concerned it’s in a good light.

Never before has the clear wrap surrounding meat in the grocery store been so transparent.

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