Keeping an eye on the bureaucratic danger signs
Released 14 Jan 2011
By Stew Wadey, Federated Farmers Waikato Provincial President
We have all watched in amazement the revolution in Tunisia. Decades ago it was one of North Africa's crown jewels. The over regulated, bureaucratic nightmare that developed in that country suppressed individual initiative. It attempted to shoehorn an entire economy, an entire people, to suit the whims of its leaders.
In my opinion, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to compare some of New Zealand's bureaucracy to Tunisia's. Sure, ours isn't self serving to the political elite, but there are definitely moments when I look at some of the rules and regulations that farmers now have to operate under and wonder how we do it. It's almost as if some of these regulations simply exist to make our lives harder, without any corresponding benefit to the economy as a whole.
I'm not advocating revolution here, but more for our regulators to take a long hard look in the mirror. They need to ask whether proposed regulation being presented to them needs to be introduced, or are bureaucrats just justifying their own existence.
Our agricultural industries in the Waikato are heading down that slippery road of being over regulated and it will have an effect on our productivity at a time when the regional and national economy is in trouble and needs our exports.
Only recently, we sought a meeting with Waipa District Council planners on their Draft District Plan because of very serious proposals to require some pastoral farming industries to apply for a consent to farm. Such was the concern, that New Zealand Deer Industry representative, Tony Pearce, flew up from Wellington and our Federated Farmers Goat industry group representatives, Philip and Lesley McGovern, attended to find a resolution.
Environment Waikato's draft Regional Policy Statement (RPS) is causing a lot of concern to Federated Farmers and other interested groups in the constituency on how it has been drawn up and signed off by councillors. All ratepayers should keep an eye on its public consultation because anyone who hasn't made a submission by 28 February cannot be part of the ongoing discussion on the RPS. The RPS influences district and regional plans, the very documents that determines how the good people of the Waikato live their lives day-to-day.
It is a constant battle to build a sensible, workable regulatory environment and our Federated Farmers Waikato regional policy expert, Rhea Dasent, has been amazing and I want to acknowledge the work she's done. She has achieved some great outcomes for farmers with Waikato District Council's District Plan.
It's been a long hard road. We first appealed in January 2007, but here is a quick recap of Federated Farmers wins.
Earthworks in the Rural Zone (for constructing and maintaining farm tracks, stream and river crossings, fence lines and farm drains) are now exempt from volume limits. This saves farmers from having to obtain a resource consent which has a deposit alone of $2044. We also got the Rural Zone earthworks limit for unspecified activities raised from 1,000m3 to 5,000m3.
We managed to reduce the setback for livestock effluent disposal from houses to 150 metres for pressurised irrigation and 20 metres for non-pressurised irrigation. This allows more land area to be used for spread-out and thin disposal.
The definition of "intensive farming" will now specifically exclude calf rearing and the wintering of animals in sheds, saving farmers from having to comply with the intensive farming rules.
The appeal is still going, so hopefully Rhea will be able to produce further benefits for farmers, but I thank the council for working constructively with us on this and coming to sensible conclusions that will benefit the district.
To contact Stew call 0800 327 646.
