Minister finds local farmers in a better mood following election
A mood of cautious optimism welcomed Agriculture Minister Todd Mcclay at a woolshed meeting in South Taranaki on Wednesday.
Mcclay, who is also minister of trade, forestry, and hunting and fishing, and Whanganui MP Carl Bates met about 50 people in a woolshed at Maata, near Eltham.
Mcclay spoke about the impending changes to the Resource Management Act, which were announced on Tuesday.
He also talked about his recent visit to China, where he found that business relationships between the two countries had matured over recent years.
“It used to be all commodity-based. Now we are starting to see long term, enduring and sustaining relationships between some of these Chinese companies with New Zealand suppliers,” he said.
Despite having some economic issues, China’s economy was still expected to grow by 5% over the next two years, he said.
“There are lots of opportunities for New Zealand in China.”
Mcclay said he had travelled the country doing similar meetings before the election, and the conversation this time was very different.
“What is pleasing and surprising is the degree of optimism and confidence on farm has increased. We are working with farmers rather than doing things to them.
“It’s only been six months, but the avalanche of criticism on them has stopped. Their confidence is improving, but it’s still really hard for farmers, particularly sheep and beef farmers.”
Mcclay fielded questions from the audience about the need for better definition of natural wetlands and waterways, and the need for longer-term funding for Catchment Communities.
Ohawe farmer and former South Taranaki mayor Ross Dunlop asked about the tension between trade with China and security.
“There’s quite a lot of pressure for us to join military alliances against China, be prepared, but we also want to keep our really good trading relationship,” he said.
Mcclay said the relationship between the two countries was strong, and independent. “We have absolutely to talk about the things that are important to us, but we should do so respectfully.”
Mcclay was accompanied by first-term Whanganui MP Carl Bates, who said he was enjoying the community engagement and variety of his role.
Bates had the official opening of his Hāwera office on Tuesday, and dropped in on a public meeting to discuss the South Taranaki District Council’s Long Term Plan that night.
“It’s going well, I’m loving it,” he said. Mcclay quipped that Bates looked more tired than on the life-sized poster of himself beside them, as he had been “talking about his electorate day and night in Wellington”.
The Eltham meeting was hosted by Myles and Vanessa Cartwright, who farm the Maata property, and Myles’ parents Rosemary and Robert Cartwright, of Inglewood.
Rosemary Cartwright said she felt the meeting had been positive. “It’s good to get an update of how we are going, in particular with China. That’s a core part of our business, the export side,” she said.
“Most farmers are doing their best – the majority of farmers have always done their best trying to mitigate problems. We don’t want floods, we don’t want droughts. I still believe there have to be regulations, but definitely not one size fits all. We have four kids who are all farming. Every farm is different and needs different solutions.”
In the afternoon, Mcclay and Bates met farmers at Waverley and Fordell, near Whanganui.
“It’s only been six months, but the avalanche of criticism ... has stopped.” Agriculture Minister Todd Mcclay