By world standards New Zealand has a large government sector and in recent years it has grown exponentially. Annual government spending has increased by over $20 billion since 1999. As the sector has grown they have interfered and meddled in all aspects of the lives of New Zealanders. To manage this interference the public service has increased by 55 percent over that time growing from 29,000 to 45,000.

 

It is well documented that when governments impose impediments to growth and expand the state sector too rapidly, living standards suffer because the quality of their spending is historically poor. Decisions are made by bureaucrats in Wellington based on academic theories and statistics rather than a good understanding of the issues and on the ground experience. Since the last Labour government came to power we slipped down the GDP rankings in the OECD and are now just ahead of Korea, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.

 

If the current government implements their environmental policy, particularly on climate change, living standards will continue to fall. For New Zealand farmers this means a lot of hard work in attempting to convince officials sitting in expensive Wellington glass towers what their ideas and policies mean to people on farms and in the rural community. If only they worked where we work they may gain better understanding! Here are some of the issues we are currently working on:    

 

Animal Welfare: Apart from general advocacy work Farmers of New Zealand Inc. operate a unique National Peer Farm Management Committee. This committee works closely with MAF Animal Welfare Enforcement and the SPCA. Read More

 

Biosecurity:  Farmers of New Zealand work on formation of regional pest management strategies and with the Animal Health Board over Tb eradication. We advocate biosecurity issues at a central government level as required. Read More

 

Climate Change: This is a major issue facing New Zealand and New Zealand farmers. It is important we fully understand the issues and the current state of the science. We are proud to be skeptical and farmers have no need to be apologetic about what they do. Read More

Energy: Energy concerns are much wider than arguing transmission access across farmland. While governments need to treat land property rights with much greater respect rural communities require stable and reliable energy supply at an affordable price. The problem is not just Auckland. Read More

    

Local Government:  Councils should concentrate on the basics is the common catch cry of many lobby groups. Local government is perceived as inefficient, bureaucratic, and a barrier to progress. However, is it really that simple? At New Zealand Farmers we do not think so. Read More

 

Resource Management Act: Farmers of New Zealand has been at the forefront of arguments to change the Resource Management Act. Read More

 

Telecommunications: The fact is our government must get serious and invest at a much faster rate. We also need to consider alternative technologies to Telecoms copper wires, which have serious limitations. Farmers of New Zealand has been at the forefront of rural broadband improvement for some years and has achieved some success. Read More

 

 

Transport Infrastructure:  Our interest in transport issues goes way beyond being able to drive a tractor on the road or to simplify the rules on riding quads on farms. Transport is as critical to farming as communication. We need good roads to minimise the cost of transport of goods whether they are farm inputs or our product going to market. Read More

  

Waikare Oyster Farmers: Farmers of New Zealand continues to assist a group of Bay of Islands marine farmers fight for their property rights after the Health Authorities closed their operations down due to water quality issues. We were at the forefront in forcing the various authorities to revisit both policy and regulations. Read More

 

Water: We have issues regarding water quality as well as supply and for many, historically utilising this resource for free, the perceived right has come to an end with water now seen as having value and therefore a price. Read More