Farmers redefine agriculture's land and water interface

Water has been a divisive issue for New Zealanders, but as one of 60 stakeholders and five iwi to agree with the Land & Water Forum’s second report, Federated Farmers is looking to move forward.

“In backing the Land & Water Forum’s second report, Federated Farmers is standing up for the mana and ecological health of our waterways as well as our farm system,” says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President.

“With farmers being long term investors in the land, it is very important to us because as much as anyone, farmers want to look after our waterways and indigenous fish.

“As part of the Forum Federated Farmers worked to ensure this report recognised that we are not working in a pristine environment, that our water ways have been modified by human activities and that national bottomlines will apply equally across urban and rural waterways. We are all in this together.

“On behalf of rural communities, the Federation also looks forward to playing a part in the continuing conversation around the costs of improving waterways and how long it will take.

“These conversations need to be carried out in local communities who have the facts to set objectives and limits for their own catchments. It is about putting the local back into government and working with regional councils to set timeframes.

“By giving local communities the ability to set objectives and limits through the regional plan process, they can be integrated with other aspects of catchment management. This includes vital water storage for our towns, cities and farms.

“We do not think it will be easy or painless. There’s a vital economic dimension communities will need to grapple with and this will create tension.

“The Federation is right there to ensure the development of win-win solutions rather than win-lose or lose-lose compromises. Our aim is for enduring buy-in from everyone. 

“The strength of this process is that we are all playing our part; urban and rural, industry and recreation. We now helping with the third report that will deal with how we manage within limits,” Mr Wills concluded.