Urban-Rural Relationships
New Zealand's population is overwhelmingly urban, with over 86 percent living in cities and towns. Furthermore, farmers and their families make up only around 2-3 percent of the population. Despite perceptions of New Zealand being a large farm, we are actually among the most heavily urbanised countries in the OECD.
Unlike previous generations when most city people had country cousins and were able to experience the farming life through family visits, Federated Farmers senses that as time has passed, fewer and fewer city people have the opportunity to understand what it means to be a farmer and how farms operate.
Urban people still understand the economic importance of agriculture, but many have concerns about its environmental impact, which has in turn affected public perceptions of farming and farmers.
Farmers are concerned about public perceptions of their industry and their way of life, and Federated Farmers is keen to work with urban people to improve their understanding of farming. We are also aware that farmers need to better understand urban aspirations.
That said, an unintended positive consequence of the Farmy Army's work responding to the Christchurch earthquakes was highlighting the strong bonds which remain between urban and rural New Zealanders and a spirit of mutual support and goodwill.
Over recent years Federated Farmers has attempted to bridge the urban-rural gap through its annual Farm Days which exposed thousands of city people to farming. The Federation wants to continue this work and is keen to work in partnership with central and local government and other stakeholders on ways to continue to build positive relationships between urban and rural people.
Federated Farmers wants
- Partnerships with central and local government and other stakeholders on initiatives to improve urban-rural relationships.
Spokesperson
Federated Farmers Urban-Rural Relationships spokesperson is national President Bruce Wills, you can contact him at bwills@fedfarm.org.nz.
