Landmark Decision Vindicates Farmers

A landmark Environment Court decision on a resource consent strongly backs Federated Farmers’ calls to reform DoC’s role as an advocate in the RMA process*.



“The Bayly Trust made a stand against DoC – the bully – with the Federation’s backing. Now the Bayly Trust has won, it vindicates what farmers have long been saying about DoC and the RMA process, said Charlie Pedersen president of Federated Farmers.



“DoC is overstepping the mark when it comes to advocacy on private land beyond DoC estates. It is a disgrace that an individual farmer has to defend the right to farm on his own land. The Bayly Trust has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this case. It is time DoC was hauled in for wasting time and resources,” said Mr Pedersen.



The Bayly case saw DoC appealing a Wairoa District Council decision to give resource consent to the Bayly Trust who was seeking permission to clear 260 hectares of kanuka scrub on Waikatea Station, less than one hours drive from Gisborne.



“DoC’s appeal has been a real kick in the teeth for the Bayly Trust and the whole East Coast district. Huge amounts of farmers’ time, money and emotional energy have been eaten up in defending this appeal. This conflict could have been avoided if DoC was forced into taking a more reasonable approach under the RMA, so hats off to the Bayly Trust for standing up to them,” said Federated Farmers’ Gisborne/Wairoa president Jean Martin.



In their proposal the Bayly Trust planned to legally protect 800 hundred hectares of indigenous vegetation, construct 20km of fencing and retire the area from grazing.



“The Baylys are true conservationists. Some people believe the land they have set aside for protection may be over generous. But it wasn’t enough for DoC. They want to go back in time and shut the country up. That sort of attitude is antagonising farmers. DoC thinks kanuka is of national importance and farming is not,” said Mrs Martin.



Bruce McNab, Federated Farmers RMA spokesperson said: “This is an example of the huge burden placed on private individuals, who already have the support of their community, but then have to fight for their right to farm through the court system. The fight in this case is against the enormous tax payer funded resource DoC has access to.



“The RMA needs to change to reward good stewardship and sensible farming practice, not punish good farmers with court cases and rules. There must be a sensible and reasonable way forward instead of the aggressive practise we are seeing by DoC. Federated Farmers is willing to engage with DoC to develop better relationships with farmers in the future,” said Mr McNab.



The Federation has put together a six-pack of changes to the RMA that includes removing tax payer funded advocacy and introducing a net conservation benefit. See more about the Federation's RMA six-pack.