Farmer’s message to PM asks for more time

A Southland farmer has written a powerful ‘‘open letter’’ to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, urging her to hear farmers’ concerns over proposed freshwater standards.

Ashley Lester’s letter said the eight-week consultation period on the Government’s policy reforms fell during the farm’s busiest time of year.

‘‘To clarify, my team are working 12-hour days to take care of my stock, seven days a week,’’ she wrote.

‘‘I have not been able to attend the limited meetings regarding the consultation as what little time I do have, goes to my young family.

‘‘I am a farmer. I am a mother. I am not a monster.

‘‘Suicide in the farming sector is high. It is scary. It is sad. Please don’t be so ruthless with your timeframes.’’

Lester said she wanted future generations to enjoy the land her family had farmed for more than a century and called for farmers to be consulted properly on the planned changes.

‘‘We want to be better. We have great ideas. We know our land. We love our land,’’ she wrote. ‘‘Please hear us.’’

The Ministry for the Environment announced its proposed freshwater rules earlier this month.

The changes would impose stricter standards to improve New Zealand’s waterways, cracking down on farming practices and increasing regulation.

Farmers have been critical of the timing of both the announcement and the six-week consultation period, which has since been extended by two weeks.

Lester’s letter, posted on Facebook on Tuesday, has been shared almost 600 times and most of the feedback was positive, she said.

‘‘It does feel a bit like farmers are being portrayed as monsters at times but the feedback from my post shows maybe there is more support than I thought.’’

Lester farms with her parents at Waimatuku, near Invercargill, while her husband, Ryan, works in town. The couple have one son, Oliver, who is almost 2.

Lester felt compelled to write the letter after trying to make sense of the 105-page Action for healthy waterways discussion document.

‘‘I got to the end and thought: Gosh, I’m going to have to read the whole thing again.

‘‘There is so much to read and understand by October 17,’’ she said.

‘‘I felt a bit hopeless and I thought if that was how I was feeling, there must be others feeling the same.

‘‘We are all stressed and working long hours and then you get this on top of it. It makes us feel like we are not being appreciated for the work we are already doing.’’

The sheep and beef farmer said she didn’t know anyone who was against protecting waterways but many farmers felt pressured and confused by the speed at which changes were coming.

‘‘From what I have heard, even the people who have made it to the consultation meetings didn’t get much clarity.

‘‘We have known changes were coming but they have come really quickly and it seems like the submissions process is just going through the motions,’’ she said.

‘‘We just want to be heard.’’