Green hypocrisy on full display over consultation

“Green Party outrage that farmers were consulted on RMA reform says a lot more about the Greens than it does about the Government,” says ACT’s Agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard.

“Farming groups weren’t the only ones consulted. Forest & Bird, the Environmental Defence Society and WWF were consulted too. I don’t see the Greens complaining about environmental lobby groups having their say. Apparently, consultation is only sinister when the people being listened to wear gumboots.

“Governments should talk to the people affected by the rules they write. Farmers are affected by planning decisions on their land more than almost anyone. A line drawn on a council map can determine how we use our land, and whether we have to spend thousands of dollars and months fighting through consenting processes.

“I have no doubt that farmers know a lot more about their natural environment than the current iteration of the Green Party. We have skin in the game because our livelihood depends on the environment being looked after.

"ACT is proud to be rural New Zealand’s authentic voice in parliament. When every other party sold rural New Zealand out with the Zero Carbon Act, ACT stood alone against it and kept campaigning to keep agriculture out of the ETS. We've achieved that in Government, we're making property rights the focus of the RMA, we've gotten rid of Labour's anti-farming policies like the ute tax, winter grazing rules and overzealous freshwater farm plans.

“New Zealand will not unlock its potential by making it harder for productive people to get things done.

“ACT in Government has been steadily getting rid of costs, paperwork, and unfair climate rules. There is still more that we can do to get out of farmers’ way and let them produce more high-quality goods. A stronger ACT presence in Government is the best way to ensure less red tape on farmers.”