Jones calls farmers ‘rednecks’
Forestry Minister Shane Jones will not back down from comments describing farmers protesting at Parliament as ‘‘rednecks’’.
However, Climate Change Minister James Shaw says Jones’ comments were not helpful, but akin to ‘‘putting out fire with gasoline’’.
It follows a march on Parliament yesterday of hundreds of farmers, organised by farming lobby group 50 Shades of Green.
50 Shades of Green president Andy Scott said the blanket forestry planting of good farmland had reached ‘‘crisis proportions’’. ‘‘Add to that the water proposals, land use changes and the consistent campaign against rural businesses, we have a problem.’’
Jones said his description of the protesters as rednecks was ‘‘absolutely appropriate’’ given the vitriolic and insulting nature of the protest.
Boos and jeers had greeted National’s agriculture spokesman Todd Muller, but were especially reserved for Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Jones.
Jones said the protesters were ‘‘sucking up to the National Party’’ and ‘‘Nga¯ ti Redneckery’’. ‘‘When you punch me in the nose, then you’re going to get a reciprocal gesture.
‘‘I’m matua Shane Jones, if you’re going to shout at me, you’re never ever going to win.’’
He and O’Connor were working out how to impede the spread of forestry on ‘‘genuinely productive land’’.
‘‘In that regard they’re making a very good point.’’
Muller said farmers used to say there were three things they needed to worry about; interest rates, commodity prices and the weather. It now appeared the Coalition Government’s policies had been added to the top.
Wairarapa sheep and beef farmer Michael Taylor said Jones and O’Connor had a policy they were adhering to, but it was the protesters’ job to show the other side.
‘‘Maybe it’s not quite working the way they thought it would.’’