When consultation isn’t
Released 24 Jun 2011
James Houghton is Federated Farmers Waikato provincial president
Everyone south of the Bombays or north of Wellsford tends to be a little one-eyed when it comes to Auckland. It doesn't matter if you're a Clevedon sheep and beef farmer, a wine maker in Kumeu or a dairy farmer near Pukekohe. Auckland just seems to conjure up a feeling or smugness and superiority. It's the one place the rest of New Zealand seems to love to put the gumboot into.
So I'm going to admit two things. First, the place isn't that bad and secondly, we've got a thing or two to learn from the way Auckland is now being run. What's rammed this home to me is the way my colleague and provincial president of Federated Farmers Auckland, Wendy Clark, is battling for her members that are now in the Waikato. These are the ones who got unceremoniously shunted out of Auckland at the time of the super city's formation.
What's brought things to a head is Waikato District Council's Livestock Movement bylaw. It may not sound like much, but it could cost some farmers hundreds of thousands and for an unlucky few, well over a million dollars. It highlights how innocuous sounding bylaws can cost farmers a lot of time and money. Given Federated Farmers has a unique understanding of local government, this bylaw defines why we exist. You see, a review hearing will be held on Wednesday and Thursday in Ngaruawahia and Federated Farmers Waikato and Auckland are combing forces. We are trying to convince Waikato District Council that there is a better way than forcing farmers to build stock underpasses in rural areas.
Waikato District Council's proposed bylaw could restrict the common law right for stockowners to move stock on roads. The bylaw is seeking to override past legal rulings with a bylaw, which in itself, is not a fine example of the consultative process. Also, the council seems to take well argued submissions somewhat personally. Rather than being open to constructive criticism and suggestion, the response is almost ‘how dare the public submit otherwise'.
Farmers fully understand the need for safety, but we're not talking about stock ambling across SH1. This bylaw is like Hamilton City Council requiring homeowners to build an underpass under Horsham Downs Road in order to get to the Rototuna Shopping Centre. No one would stand for that. Federated Farmers has tried to talk to the council about sensible solutions, but it's been hard to pin Waikato District Council down for a public meeting in the Waikato. We're open to options and discussion and we'd prefer it if the council worked openly with farmers than a ‘see you in court' mindset.
Farmers in the old Franklin District were used to a relatively light handed regulatory environment ‘in Auckland'. Sure, the former Auckland councils came down like a ton of bricks on transgressors, but they also let farmers decide the best way of keeping inside the law. This proposed stock Livestock Movement bylaw is one example of the huge culture shock these ‘ex-Auckland' farmers encountered on joining the Waikato. Given Auckland recorded 6 percent significant non-compliance in dairy for the 2009/10 season, compared to 27 percent in the Waikato, maybe we can learn a thing or two from Aucklanders after all.
So, support your farming colleagues this Wednesday between 9.15 am and 4.30 pm and Thursday between 9.15 am and 12.30 pm, at Waikato District Council Chambers, 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia. Also on Thursday and related to road safety is a seminar on the rules around using agricultural vehicles on-road. It will run between 1 and 4pm at the AgrowQuip depot, 169 State Highway 1B, Cambridge, between Langford's contracting and Fonterra.
