Change of guard at Federated Farmers
At least two changes will be made in leadership for the Manawatu Rangitikei province of Federated Farmers at its annual meeting this week.
James Stewart is stepping down after three years in the role as provincial president and Mat Hocken is also not seeking reelection for his position of dairy chairman due to commitments with the Nuffield scholarship which will take him around the globe on his studies for much of this year
Just before the annual meeting this Friday Federated Farmers is hosting a political panel at Orlando Country Palmerston North with the doors to be opened to the public to hear politicians views on topics with an agriculture theme.
The MPS taking part are Barbara Kuriger from National, Damien O’connor from Labour, Winston Peters of NZ First and Eugenie Sage from the Green party.
They will talk about the future for agriculture in the Manawaturangitikei region.
Following the two-minute talks, a one-hour debate will take place on the environment, innovation, foreign investment and the urbanrural divide.
Manawatu and Rangitikei has a range of environmental challenges and questions will be asked about the balance between regulations set by government and councils to protect the environment and the economic realities for regional towns and farmers who must comply.
Both regions are known nationally for their innovative agri sectors. The Agri Food Investment Week in March put the spotlight on the region’s agri food sector and questions will be asked about how central government and political leaders can create more successful innovation in agriculture in the future.
The purchase of New Zealand farm land by foreign investors is a hotly debated issue and includes the recent sale of a Landcorp station in Te Anau to Chinese interests. Questions will be asked on the place for foreign investment, particularly on the risks it may pose to farmers in the future.
With the growing gap in understanding between urban and rural New Zealand farmers feel their livelihoods are being threatened by biased or unfounded opinion.questions will be asked about the desire of political leaders to bridge this gap and how they improve the image many urban New Zealanders hold of farming and regions.