National sets out plan to double exports by 2034
“The Primary sector is $4 billion ahead of schedule to deliver on National’s ambitious 2023 goal to double the value of exports in 10 years, and today we are laying out our plan to ensure that target is met,” says National Party Agriculture spokesman, Todd McClay.
“Food and Fibre exports have just hit a record $65.2 billion, and which shows our transformative work in the primary sector is paying real dividends.
“Our famers and growers generate around four in every five dollars of our goods exports and support about 360,000 jobs, most of them in our regions.
“That export income pays for the hospitals, schools and roads in every New Zealand community. When farming grows, it delivers more jobs, wages lift and the regions across the country thrive,” Mr McClay says.
“In 2023, National campaigned on getting Wellington out of farming. We have delivered. Dairy production has risen for the first time in a decade, with profitability at its highest level since the measure began.
“To get this done we replaced the RMA, scrapped the Ute Tax, removed farming from the ETS, banned full farm-to-forestry conversions, introduced Investment Boost, announced plans for water and fertiliser security, signed trade deals and slashed red tape.
“Our plan is working – and today, we go further,” Mr McClay says.
“National is announcing 19 new standards to slash red tape around the work farmers and growers do every day.
“In many cases, these standards will remove the need for consents entirely. Even where consents may still be required, they will be easier, faster, and cheaper. This means more time and money spent on growing their businesses, rather than paying for needless bureaucracy.
“National wants farmers to produce more, invest with confidence and help us double the value of our exports. It's how we fix the basics and build the future.
“If rural New Zealand wants the primary sector to continue growing, they should stick with the plan and party vote National.
“The choice is clear - a Labour Government propped up by the Greens, Te Pati Māori and Opportunity with nine new taxes, or National with no new taxes and a plan to keep our rural sector flourishing.”
Link to Agriculture Manifesto HERE
