Why it’s a treat to vote

My son has a special treat for his birthday this year: he gets to vote in the local body elections. Now I know this not a treat coveted by many young people; in fact it’s not coveted by many people at all, as voting turnout in local government elections is appallingly low.

It seems that issues like the state of our roads, footpaths, water reticulation, sewerage and rubbish collection aren’t enough to get our adrenalin pumping.

And not enough of us really care about our parks, recreational facilities or even how our towns and cities are being planned for the future.

Strange, because these are the things that have an impact on our day-to-day lives.

Voter turnout in local authority elections has been declining for 28 years. In the last elections only 43 per cent voted.

That’s almost half of the almost 80 per cent who turned out for the last general election.

Voter turnout does rise as we get older, but I’d like our youngies to think for a moment before diverting their eyes away from those faces on the billboards. They’re the ones who will be making decisions about your future.

And why that is more important than ever is this: those people and the staff who serve under them are already pondering ginormous decisions about how to manage our environment, flood control, and the quality of our air and water.

Last time I looked students were protesting about climate change inaction. Now’s the time when individually and collectively you can make a difference to how we manage or mismanage our future.

It’s the people around those boardroom tables and council chambers who are deciding whether they are even going to bother to try to manage our precious New Zealand coastline.

They will be deciding if that beach you made sandcastles on and the park you played in will even exist for the family you may or may not choose to have in the future.

They’ll also be the ones considering affordable housing which may determine if you own a house or not.

Now I know from the research that you feel despondent about the inability to make a difference but, in my view, more than central government elections, you really can make change in the place you grew up in or live.

And cast a thought for other countries where women, minorities or the whole population can’t vote and thank your lucky stars that at least your ancestors enabled the democratic right you have been failing to exercise.

It doesn’t take huge numbers to vote in a councillor. In a medium-sized region, a candidate will make it on to a ward with about 700 votes. So, with a decent-sized family and a large bunch of friends actively spreading the word, your candidate could be in.

More than that, unlike at central government level, you’ll be able to seriously eyeball your local councillors and mayor and hold them to account for what they do.

If you can get enough support from your community over an issue, it’s likely that they will listen to you because they will need your vote at the next election to get back in.

So, while I understand it’s far more exciting to be an activist taking direct action against oil companies and sweat shops and marching on Parliament, you might find an old-fashioned postal vote just might be more effective.

Voting papers are starting to be sent out at the end of this week.

Son, that’s your birthday present.

Why do we asa country continually blame farmers?

When the country moved to do better by the environment our farmers were the first to put their hands up and say we need to do more. Over the past 10 years, the vast majority of farmers have worked tirelessly to do more and to do better by the environment.

Fencing off waterways, riparian planting, strategic grazing, creating sediment traps, restoring wetlands, leaving buffer zones and investing in farm infrastructure, all money spent by farmers to do better by the environment.

And even after all this they still put their hand up and say we need to do more.

I could not be more proud of our farmers for their work to date and their ongoing work in doing better by the environment.

But where are these headlines?

Instead, all we see is the one cow standing in the waterway or the one cow which has given birth on the crop paddock.

Why do we as a country continually blame farmers?

Here’s a thought – why as a country do we not instead thank our farmers?

Why?

Because farmers feed us.

Without them, there would be no bread on the table, no milk in the fridge and certainly no roast in the oven.

Farmers make up less than 5% of our population, yet make up half of our export market.

As a country, we rely heavily on a very small group of people to not only feed us but keep our country afloat through our export market. Farmers are very smart people.

They have to be mechanics, veterinarians, accountants, weathermen and more all rolled in to one all of the time.

You imagine not just working your job but half a dozen daily.

And how do you enjoy your annual leave each year?

Most farmers wouldn’t even know what annual leave is.

They work 365 days of the year, rain, hail or shine.

It is one of the hardest jobs around, but they do it because they love it – they love the land, their animals and their way of life.

Despite what the photos and videos may show, farmers do care – they care more than most people could ever imagine.

A lot of farmers in New Zealand are generational, and we celebrate these long-standing farming families with our Century Farm Awards.

How lucky are we to know the future of our food production and exports are in safe hands?

They don’t only support the next generation but each other.

In times where they are being pointed the finger at from all directions, they have stood united and in support of one another.

Take Ag Proud NZ for example – a bunch of farmers wanting to share their positive message, and how fantastic has this been?

Standing united against the bullies and finger pointers saying enough is enough and actually, we are proud of what we do – and so they should be.

This country was built on the backbone of farmers and their hard work.

Yet of late these same farmers have been bullied, discriminated against and misrepresented by extremists set on destroying farming.

The Government’s winter grazing taskforce announcement, including such extremists, proves they are following the same trend.

It has carried on for years – quote former Prime Minister Helen Clark ‘‘farming is a sunset industry.’’

Farming is not a sunset industry. Farming built this country and it is farming which will continue to build this country.

Despite what the extremists may try and portray, farmers care about their animals, the land and the environment.

Don’t believe me – talk to the farmer whose kids go to school with yours, have a conversation and even go and see for yourself.

Farmers have been and always will be the first to put their hands up and say we need to do more. It’s about time our urban cousins did the same. Hamish Walker is the MP for Clutha-Southland