Letters from Federated Farmers to Parliamentary Ministers

An important part of Federated Farmers’ advocacy role is writing letters to Ministers of the Crown in which Federated Farmers seeks to gain information or assurances from Ministers, seek changes to legislation and the like, or places an important position of support or opposition on the official record.  Federated Farmers thinks it is important for members to be able to access these letters to see the responses we received and if a particular Minister has failed to respond.  Letters are placed here either one month after written or earlier if a substantive response is received and/or the letter is publicly released or referred to by the recipient.

 
Date Sent Sent to Portfolio  Key Issue  Response  Link to Letters
(members only) 
16/03/2023 

Hon Meka Whaitiri 
CC
Hon Damien O'Connor

 Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare) 
Minister of Agriculture/Rural Communities
National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) 		 Request to reject the proposed Code of Welfare: Dairy Cattle, as it is not fit for purpose.   Yes Click Here
20/02/2023 Hon David Parker Environment Request for Relief from some Resource Management Act requirements for Cyclone Gabrielle affected farmers and growers to restore their operations  Yes Click Here
           
10/02/2023  Hon Damien O'Connor
CC
Hon Dr Ayesha
Hon David Parker		 Minister of Agriculture; Minister of Biosecurity; Minister of Land Information; Minister of Trade and Export Growth Request to all political parties to support a review of genetic modification laws    Click Here 
           
10/02/2023  Mark Cameron MP
CC
James McDowall
Simon Court		 List Member ACT   Request to all political parties to support a review of genetic modification laws     Click Here
           
10/02/2023 

Hon James Shaw 
CC
Marama Davidson

 Climate Change Request to all political parties to support a review of genetic modification laws    Click here
           
10/02/2023  Todd Muller MP National Party Spokesperson: Agriculture; Climate Change Request to all political parties to support a review of genetic modification laws     Click Here 
           
10/02/2023  Debbie Ngarewa-Packer MP 
CC
Rawiri Waititi MP		 List Member, Te Paati Māori  Request to all political parties to support a review of genetic modification laws    Click Here 
           
09/02/2023  Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall  Health; Research, Science and Innovation Request for Meeting with Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard and Vice President Wayne Langford   Click Here 
           
03/02/2023 Hon Kieran McAnulty  Local Government; Rural Communities  Congratulations on Appointment and expressed concerns over Three Waters Reforms   Click Here 
           
03/02/2023  Hon Jan Tinetti Education Congratulations on Appointment and expressed concerns about inequitable funding of rural families access to education. Yes Click Here
           
03/02/2023  Hon Willow-Jean Prime Conservation Congratulations on Appointment and request to meet. Outline of key issues in common and potential conflicts. No  Click Here 
           
02/02/2023  Hon Ginny Anderson Digital Economy and 
Communications
Small Business		 Congratulations on Appointment and offer to meet.  Regarding need to improve connectivity for rural and remote people. No  Click Here 
           
27/01/2023  Hon Carmel Sepuloni Deputy Prime Minister Congratulations on Appointment. Acknowledgement of support for Get Kiwis on Farm joint Feds/MSD Initiative. No  Click Here 
           
25/01/2023 Rt Hon Chris Hipkins Prime Minister Congratulations on Appointment and request to meet. Outlined top for issues to address for Farmers and growers. Slow down-halt RMA reform/Review Methane targets/Review Carbon forestry drivers/Review unworkable regulations (e.g. Essential Freshwater).   No  Click Here 
           
18/01/2023 Hon Kieran McAnulty

Hon Stuart Nash
Hon James Shaw

Emergency Management
Forestry
Associate Environment

Cyclone Hale - Request to initiate official inquiry to reduce risks in the future. 

  Yes Click Here
           
 14/12/2022 Hon Kiritapu Allen Associate Minister for
the Environment		 Significant Concerns with Changes to the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Sources of Human
Drinking Water) Regulations 2007		 No  Click Here
           
 17/08/2022 Hon David Parker
 Environment
 Winter Grazing: Request winter grazing regulations are delayed until Nov 2023 and that industry work to provide farmers with a winter grazing template to complete this season.   Yes Click Here
           
 04/08/2022 Hon David Parker Environment Request legislation be amended to delay the 2021/22 Nitrogen Cap reporting date to 31 December 2022.  This will remove the current problem whereby farmers are being encouraged to break the law.   Yes Click Here
           
03/08/2022 Hon David Parker  Environment   Invite to meet with Federated Farmers' national water spokesperson, Colin Hurst.    Click Here
           
21/12/2021 Hon David Parker, 
Hon Damien O'Connor. 
CC
Vicky Robertson (MfE)
Ray Smith (MPI) 		 Environment; 
Agriculture 		 Concerns with Natural & Built Environments Bill Yes  Click Here
           
15/12/2021  Hon Damien O'Connor  Agriculture  KiwiSaver Withdrawls: purchase of first farm and ability of sharemilkers and farm employees to purchases rented out property  Yes  Click Here
           
03/12/2021 Hon Grant Robertson,
Hon Chris Hipkins, 
Hon Damien O'Connor,
Hon Jan Tinetti
CC
Dr Caralee McLiesh (Treasury),
Iona Holsted (Ministry of Education),
Ray Smith (MPI) 		 Finance, 
Education, 
Rural Communities, 
Associate Education.		 Budget 2022: Equity of access to education for isolated rural families and whanau.  Yes Click Here
           
09/11/2021  Hon Grant Robertson,
Hon David Parker, 
Hon Damien O'Connor,
Hon Kiritapu Allan, 
Hon James Shaw.
CC
Dr Caralee McLiesh (Treasury),
Vicky Robertson (MfE), 
Ray Smith (MPI),
Penny Nelson (DOC).
 Finance, 
Environment,
Agriculture,
Conservation,
Associate Environment.		 Budget 2022: Indigenous Biodiversity. 
Importance of progressing the complete package of budgetary measures and national regulation. 		 Yes Click Here
           
01/11/2021  Hon James Shaw, 
Hon Damien O'Connor 		 Climate Change
Agriculture 		 Progressing He Waka Eke Noa Yes  Click Here
           
28/10/2021 Hon Damien O'Connor Agriculture,
Rural Communities		 Highlight the critical need for dairy workers and request for 1500 class border exception visas in time for calving 2022.   Click Here
           
19/10/2021 Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, 
Hon Grant Robertson, 
Hon David Parker, 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta, 
Hon Damien O'Connor, 
Hon James Shaw. 
CC
Chris Seed (Foreign Affairs & Trade), 
Ray Smith (MPI)
Vicky Robertson (MfE). 		 Prime Minister,
Finance,
Environment,
Foreign Affairs,
Agriculture,
Climate Change. 		 He Waka Eke Noa, Agricultural Emissions and COP26    Click Here
           
21/09/2021 Hon Nanaia Mahuta  Local Government Water Services Bill: further request for exemption for small suppliers (response to her letter of 03/09). Yes, Meeting held Click Here  
           
16/09/2021 Hon Kris Faafoi, 
Hon Damien O'Connor 		 Immigration, 
Agriculture		 Highlight the urgency required to prioritise and approve the dairy sector workers who are currently in the residency application queue.   Issue addressed. Click Here