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TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS MARCH 29, 2022: ISSUE 747
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Predetermined outcome? SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
QUESTIONS ARE being raised about the integrity of the recent consultation process around farm emissions. Farmers claim an email, sent last week by DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle, makes a mockery of their sub-
A fine example! NORWEGIAN WOOLLEN garment company Devold will pay its New Zealand growers a fixed premium. This contrasts with the current wool contract system, where growers are paid a fluctuating rate – depending on the market average. Under the new fixed contract, growers will receive a fixed price per kilogram (higher than the market average) for one year. The company will also offer a bonus payment of $2/ kg above the new contracted base rate, should the wool meet certain criteria. Craig Smith, general manager of Devold Wool Direct (centre), claims the move will funnel $9 million dollars into the local wool industry. He says by increasing the current contract price and fixing it for one year the company is giving certainty and showing loyalty to its growers. Stew Perriam (R) who co-owns and operates Bendigo Station with brother Dan (L) says the new contract rewards them as growers, and gives them certainty moving forward.
missions and the authenticity of the recent consultation. The charge has been led by lobby group Groundswell and raised criticism of DairyNZ – a key member of the HWEN (He Waka Eke Noa) partnership that ran the farmer consultation process. Mackle’s email says proposals put
forward by farmers during the consultation process “miss a lot of detail”. He claims there are “strict confines” that need to be worked within and any proposal that is going to get over the line with government “needs to be credible”. Mackle states the two options – farm-level and processor-level – put forward by the HWEN partnership
have the best chance of success. But Groundswell claims DairyNZ “has dismissed all alternative emissions proposals the day before the group was due to present its emissions plan to the He Waka Eke Noa secretariat”. “We are deeply disappointed with this pre-emptive action by DairyNZ,
which has now cast doubt on the integrity of the entire HWEN consultation process,” it says. “This is unacceptable conduct by DairyNZ, farmers deserve much better from our representatives.” ACT rural spokesman Mark Cameron says he shares farmers’ disappointment. “DairyNZ has fallen victim to the Government’s fear mongering,” he told Rural News. “Arguably it could have said to the Government that both options as they currently sit are nonstarters.” Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says Mackle’s message could have been “better worded”. He says farmers made submissions to the HWEN consultation in good faith and expect changes to the farmlevel and processor-level options. “I think there should be changes if the industry groups want to bring farmers on the journey,” Hoggard told Rural News. He says Mackle’s message seems to say that changes unacceptable to the Government won’t be included, when in fact DairyNZ should be pushing for changes sought by farmers. “Consultations have to be genuine. If there are no changes to the proposals then farmers would be disappointed.” Mackle told Rural News that Groundswell’s statement is misleading and inaccurate. “We’re really disappointed that these claims do not reflect the fair and transparent consultation process that has been undertaken for He Waka Eke Noa,” he told Rural News. TO PAGE 3