Despite the importance of agriculture and other primary industries to the economy, 86 percent of the population lives in cities and towns of over 1,000 people. The remaining 14 percent live in rural communities. Farmers and their families make up only 2-3 percent of the total population. New Zealand is one of the most urbanised countries in the OECD.
With New Zealand being such an urbanised country yet heavily reliant on primary industries it is important that policy makers and decision makers understand the importance of our rural communities and the issues important to them.