Groundswell NZ presents petition
Nearly 100,000 people have signed a Groundswell NZ petition calling on the Government to stop its emissions tax on agriculture.
The group’s co-founders, Laurie Paterson and Bryce McKenzie, delivered the petition by tractor to Parliament yesterday, where it was received by Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri and Deputy Leader of the House Kieran McAnulty.
Nearly 100,000 signatures were collected by the group after the Government released its draft agricultural emissions pricing proposal, He Waka Eke Noa, which would tax farmers for the emissions created on their farms.
On the steps of Parliament, McKenzie said the Government wanted to introduce a tax that, by the Government’s own numbers, would mean 20% of sheep and beef farmers and 6% of dairy farms would ‘‘be gone’’.
‘‘Think about that for a minute – every fifth farmer, and that’s by 2030,’’ he said.
‘‘The ones left behind will be under immense pressure and strain, on mostly their mental health, just from their ability to be able to manage their businesses.’’
He said the flow-on would be less money to spend at local shops and services, a reduction in export income, higher food prices and a negative impact on rural communities.
Groundswell NZ held its third nationwide protest, this time against He Waka Eke Noa, last month.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has said he ‘‘absolutely rejected’’ claims relating to future farming levels if an emissions trading scheme goes ahead.
O’Connor said those figures were not stated anywhere in the discussion document, and Government modelling suggested a 10% land use change on sheep and beef farms and 2% of dairy farms when the scheme is implemented in 2025.
The He Waka Eke Noa proposal has proven controversial, with industry groups Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and Beef + Lamb NZ all withdrawing support for it.
They had all been involved in the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership involved in drafting the proposal, but all said the final proposal was not what they had agreed on.
Dairy NZ has recommended the Government makes significant changes to its emissions pricing proposal taking on board the feedback of farmers and their representatives.