NICOLA GRIGG - OPINION PIECE

Last week, the National party released the first tranche of our three-part agricultural policydrawing a very clear line in the sand that, unlike Labour, we are the party that is going to cut the unnecessary red tape and get our farmers back actually farming. As anybody in Canterbury knows, farming is the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, and I am proud that our farmers are the best in the world. Selwyn has one of the fastest-growing GDPs in the country, and that is thanks to the hard work done by our rural sector.

Last year, New Zealand’s agriculture exports totalled $41 billion, or 63 percent of our goods exports. When farmers succeed, New Zealand succeeds. However, since coming to power, Labour has waged war on farmers by burying them under a mountain of unnecessary and unworkable red tape - including introducing or changing more than twenty new or amended regulations that directly affect the ability of business operations in the agricultural sector. For example, ‘wetlands’ are so poorly defined that farmers are having to go to court to determine whether land is a boggy paddock that can be farmed or a protected wetland that can’t. This is adding to the uncertainty and frustration amongst the existing impractical working environment. Farmers end up spending more of their time and money grappling with Labour’s new rules and have less to invest in their farms, risking lower productivity. For example, the Government’s delays in finalising their rules for freshwater farm plans alone are going to cost Canterbury farmers $7 million in consent fees. These costs get passed on to consumers, so we all end up paying for Labour’s over-regulation. Labour has used rules and regulations to try to run farms from Wellington. That ends under National.

National’s Getting Back to Farming package will cut the mountain of red tape to help farmers get on with earning the income on which their livelihoods, New Zealand’s economy and New Zealanders’ standard of living, depend. We have been hearing the cries from the sector for the past five years, and we hear you. We want to put the pride and practicality back into farming.

We’ll get Wellington out of farming and ensure farming regulations are fit for purpose and are workable in each area of the sector, rather than imposing a generic set of rules that just don’t work. National will return the management of local issues to local councils. We’ll ensure rural communities have the tools they need to continue to provide New Zealand, and the world, with high-quality, low-carbon food and fibre.

In contrast to Labour’s heavy-handed centralisation,

National supports practical environmentalism. We are committed to a carefully balanced approach, integrating both environmental and economic goals. National will deliver a professional, competent regulatory system that targets environmental outcomes without telling farmers how to run their businesses, and while imposing the minimum compliance costs on them.

We have also been working closely with the export sector to reinstate live shipments of cattle offshore at the absolute highest level of animal welfare standards possible. We firmly believe New Zealand farmers are the best in the world, which is why we are backing farmers to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare. As National’s spokesperson for Animal Welfare, I care very deeply for all animals.

Most ships in current use are refurbished container shipsthese are fundamentally unsuitable for live exports and should not, and will not, be allowed to carry livestock under a National Government. I recently paid a visit to the last vessel to leave the Napier port prior to the ban of live exports that comes into effect at the end of the month - a custom-made ship with incredible facilities, good drainage, rubber flooring, air conditioning, sawdust bedding, plenty of food and water reticulation. This is the world-class standard National will regulate for, and we will tolerate nothing less. This is only the start. This country does not need more rules. It needs better regulation. National will be announcing more policies on agricultureand many other things - in the coming weeks and months. And in government, National will deliver results so that all New Zealanders get ahead.

Nicola Grigg, Selwyn MP.

Young Farmers Speed Shear

Wow, what a night, West Melton Young Farmers (WMYF) will remember Saturday, April 15th, as they held their first ever speed shear as a fundraiser to raise funds for people affected by cyclone Gabrielle, raising a total of $4,870. Fifty percent of the funds will be donated to rural support, which will be handed out to those in need who have been affected by this devastating cyclone.

As a Club, we didn’t know how this event was going to go or what to expect as we hadn’t had that much interest generally before the event. People entered on the day and what an amazing turn out, not only of shearers but supporters, as well as, people who came along for an evening out. Our amazing twenty competitors who travelled from all over the Canterbury region, we really can’t thank you enough for your support towards our event.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors who got in behind us and kindly donated prizes and gifts to either go into the raffle, spot prizes or the Auction. A huge shout out goes to D J

Webster Shearing Ltd for donating not only gear but time and a shearer for preparing and doing the sheep up for the event. Ellesmere Transport for the use of the curtain sider and transporting the lambs from Pemberley Farm in Kirwee. Our two judges, Paul Gallagher who travelled up from Fairlie and Kelvin Webster from Dunsandel, we appreciate not only your time but your commitment.

A massive thank you goes to West Melton Tavern for letting us host our event at their venue and Phil Manera for doing an amazing job of MCing the event and running the Auction. The West Melton Young Farmers Club members would also like to say a huge thanks to Ady Webster and her partner Ryan Dickey (Chair of the WMYF), who organised most of the event, without them it probably wouldn’t have gone ahead.

Congratulations to all our winners.

Intermediate:

1st: Kelly Poehls

2nd: Josh Devane

3rd: Ariki Humphrey

Senior:

1st: Edward Harrington

2nd: Liam Norrie

3rd: Jacob Taylor

Open:

1st: Thomas Ritchie

2nd: Ryan Miller considered for publica on without the writer’s name (given and surname) and area of residence (not address) also being printed. Le ers wri en using a pseudonym, are unable to be published. really worry me which one as long as I am saving something. The transfer of assets from one entity to another has no effect on us as ratepayers since we cannot get any value from them - try asking for a bank loan based on owning part of the Council water system!

3rd: Shaun Burgess. If you’ve ever thought about joining West Melton Young Farmers, now is the time to come down and give it a go. We meet on the last Monday of every month at West Melton Tavern at 7pm, and we look forward to seeing you there.

West Melton Young Farmers Club.

To the Editor: Your correspondent Ian Lees in railing against the proposed water reforms appears to overlook the statement by our Mayor that it will save each household $2760 under the new entity and that water charges on our rates bills will disappear. Taxes come out of one of my pockets and rates out of the other - in the end, it doesn't

Harvey Polglase, Darfield.

Junior Kirwee Tennis Club

The Kirwee Tennis Club Championships and Prizegiving happened this year after a two year hiatus due to past Covid restrictions. The day began well with a good turnout of players. Thank you to Adrienne Begg, who provided the lovely food, sausages and Easter Eggs for the players to enjoy. Thank you to Chrissie Taylor , Club President, for helping out on the day and Richard Greer for helping with the draw and results.

Kirwee had five Junior teams entered across the divisions in the Malvern Tennis competition on Saturday mornings. We also have a very strong coaching base on Tuesday afternoons provided by ‘All Things Tennis’. The children had a great season and we hope they will continue playing and hopefully some will step up into a competitive role. Thank you also to all the team managers, who made my life a lot easier. I like to give everyone a chance at doing this, so hopefully you haven't found it