David Carter, National Party Spokesman for Agriculture.

RL:

Tempering this optimism however, is the fact that our sector faces some very real challenges. Issues such as climate change, environmental pressures, skyrocketing on-farm costs and growing international competition will all place significant pressure on the sector now and into the future.

RL: Dairy farmers have had some great returns of late while at the same time getting accused of being responsible for everything from global warming to the rising cost of living – and now the high cost of hay?  Do you think the accusation is fair or accurate?

DC: No, I don’t think it is fair and much of the anti dairy rhetoric is simply misleading and inaccurate. New Zealand dairy farmers are some of the best in the world and it’s important to remember that the dairy sector has largely underpinned New Zealand’s recent economic growth. 

In areas such as environmental management, emissions reduction and water conservation, our dairy sector really is leading the world.

RL: What, if anything, can Government do to change the perception of “rich farmers cause the problems” that seems to be all around us at the moment?

DC: This perception is certainly a concern and I think indicative of the weakening ties between urban and rural New Zealand. It comes down to I believe a lack of understanding, and the rural community not being active enough in challenging inaccuracies being spread by organisations like the Green Party.

The role for Government and the Minister of Agriculture in addressing this is to act as a constant cheerleader for the sector. The Minister should be relentlessly highlighting the great work that farmers do and their importance to New Zealand. Conversely, Government also needs to be active in working with the sector to address any areas where standards are unacceptable. 

RL: Is the RMA here to stay – and torture – or should it be overhauled?

DC: TheResource Management Act is a major source of cost, confusion and delay to the primary sector. It is probably the number one issue raised with me by disgruntled farmers up and down the country. National will not alter the fundamental principals of the RMA but will focus on reforming the Act’s regulatory processes. We strongly believe that environmental enhancement is essential in the development of agriculture, but that this can be done in a way that leads to more rather than less, production and prosperity.

I can promise you that National will significantly overhaul the RMA to make it more efficient and user friendly rather than the torturous and expensive process it currently is! 

RL: How do you see the growth of the Lifestyle Block in New Zealand?

DC: The growth of lifestyle blocks is clearly changing the face of rural New Zealand, and I think it’s for the better. Lifestyle blocks make a great contribution to our rural way of life - they inject fresh enthusiasm into rural communities and allow many more Kiwis to experience the joys and challenges of farming. I can only see this growth continuing as more and more New Zealanders seek to escape city life and get back in touch with their country roots.

The continued popularity of lifestyle blocks does present some unique challenges for the rural sector. Lifestyle block owners often have limited practical knowledge of the realities of farming and this can have worrying consequences. However, I am confident that issues such as this can be addressed, and a National government will work with the sector to ensure that a comprehensive toolkit is developed to meet the needs of lifestyle block owners.