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Migrants not the answer to labour squeeze Vol 21 No 12, April 3, 2023
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Farmers say trust lost in BLNZ Neal Wallace
NEWS
F
Leadership
ARMERS have lost trust in Beef + Lamb NZ over its handling of the industrywide He Waka Eke Noa agreement, directors were told at its annual meeting in New Plymouth on Thursday. The industry-wide agreement to price agricultural greenhouse gases dominated discussion and most of the 10 remits being considered as farmers dissected what they said were HWEN’s flaws.
Farming Inc should have said ‘No, this is going too fast.’ We should have pulled on the handbrake. Rick Burke Bay of Plenty Most of their anger stemmed from what was seen as BLNZ’s role as an industry advocate when there was deficient consultation and a lack of transparency over HWEN. Given its complexity, farmers said, they needed more time to consider its implications. It was noted that a recent BLNZ survey showed farmer satisfaction with the body was just 36% and unless that improved, the
implications could be significant. “The risk of losing the levy vote in three years’ time is very real,” North Otago farmer Jane Smith said. She called for an independent review of how BLNZ reaches a levy payer mandate. Given the wave of pending further regulations, Smith urged BLNZ not to be defensive and circle the wagons. “The independent review needs to reflect, acknowledge and assess its advocacy position on our behalf.” Other remits also reflected frustration and a loss of trust. They included a vote of no confidence in the board, getting the board to adopt best-practice consultation, and having access to contact details for board and farmer council members. Bay of Plenty farmer Rick Burke said HWEN moved too fast and communication was poor on both sides. “Farming Inc should have said ‘No, this is going too fast.’ We should have pulled on the handbrake.” Waikato farmer Graeme Gleeson said consultation with farmers over HWEN was poor and became top-down, a “we know best” discussion. He said it appeared as if BLNZ lacked a framework to follow. “It looks like you walked into it
Matawhero emerges from the gloom PGG Wrightson’s Chris Hurlstone calls for bids at the Matawhero dairy beef weaner fair last week as vendors made complicated plans to work around the weather disruptions.
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Kindness, kinship soothe Cyclone Gabrielle’s sting Even modest gestures help to start the process of healing from the emotional trauma of seeing a life’s work devastated, writes Cheyenne Wilson.
OPINION 23 Geoffrey Young, whose election to the BLNZ board ousted the chair, has often done things the hard way.
Dairy market analysts differ widely in their preliminary forecasts for the farmgate milk price next season.
A Pātoka farmer conquers cyclone fatigue to get to Young Farmer regionals – and win by less than a point.
PEOPLE 9
MARKETS 14
PEOPLE 24
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