A long-awaited decision to cull cattle infected with the Mycoplasma Bovis disease will bring some welcome relief to affected farmers but questions remain whether the Government is fully committed to eradication, National’s Primary Industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“Yesterday the Minister, Damien O’Connor, told Parliament that Cabinet is still to decide if eradication is possible – or if it’s even economically viable – which is nothing but a ‘get out of jail free’ card so the Government doesn’t have to commit to any further funding.

“The $85 million package - that includes $11 million from industry - will go some way toward culling the 22 herds but it’s also needed to cover ongoing operational costs, including some feed and compensation costs.

“While this gives certainty to those individual farmers, this is going to be a stressful time as they see their animals trucked off for slaughter, and I feel for them.

“Many will have spent a lifetime investing in the best animal genetics and also have a stand down period before they can purchase replacement stock and get back farming again.

“I acknowledge the work of the Rural Support Trust and banks, who will play a very important role in supporting these farmers through this soul-destroying period.

“Because of a lack of funding, the Government has been too slow to compensate farmers to date and my challenge to the Minister and his officials is be fair and fast with future compensation claims.

“I’m also calling on the Minister to release the tracing report that is currently sitting on his desk. My pick is that it will be inconclusive as to how Micoplasma Bovis got here – tracing the origins of this disease will be a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack,” Mr Guy says. 

Otaki MP Nathan Guy says Air New Zealand has robbed the Kapiti community by withdrawing its Auckland to Kapiti Coast air service, with just three weeks’ notice.

“The route has proved popular and profitable for the national carrier. It’s hard to believe that the reason Air New Zealand is giving – a lack of pilots – has just crept up on them. It stinks,” Mr Guy says.

“I also find it hypocritical of Air New Zealand to have been promoting flights from Kapiti Coast as recently as last weekend when they held an open day at the airport. They have deceived the community.”

Mr Guy says Air New Zealand is displaying a lack of foresight.

“Our region is benefiting hugely by the massive investment taking place with the construction of Transmission Gully and the Kapiti Expressways. It’s making us one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

“It is also disappointing that Air New Zealand has given the community insufficient time to come up with another option, so a similar service could continue.”

Mr Guy is calling a meeting of representatives from the Kapiti Coast District Council, Air Chathams, Todd Property Group and the Kapiti Chamber of Commerce next week.

“The meeting aims to encourage a new carrier to take on the service and Air Chathams has already expressed an interest to me in doing so, but they won’t be able to deliver a service in just three weeks.

“I’ll certainly be doing all I can by working with interested groups to fight the decision.”

Mr Guy successfully lobbied to get Air New Zealand to begin flights from Kapiti Coast in 2011.

“Air New Zealand has invested in the service and it is now performing well, which makes this knee-jerk decision all the more disappointing for regular users and our community.”

Long-awaited funding to fight the outbreak of the cattle disease Mycoplasma Bovis will be welcome news to affected farmers, but it remains to be seen how quickly compensation will be paid out, National’s Primary Industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“The Government’s announced funding of $85 million for operational and compensation costs but it looks like they’ve included $10 million previously set aside, and the $11 million that industry has been asked to stump up.

“It’s highly likely the Government’s contribution has been reprioritised from other funds that have been shelved. We know that irrigation projects have been put on ice – and the Primary Growth Partnership’s R&D funding has been raided to rebrand MPI.

“Given the massive spending pressures the Coalition is already under I can’t imagine the Finance Minister Grant Robertson writing out a new cheque for Damien O’Connor.

Bio-security spokesperson Barbara Kuriger says she hopes that the funding will at least mean the compensation process for affected farmers can move at pace.

“I’m pleased there is finally some relief and certainty for our farmers and rural communities. The sector has been crying out for this support for a long time now.

“The overall response has been too slow and the incursion has spread.

“It is imperative that farmers lodge a claim for compensation. So far it seems that just 51 have made claims for compensation out of 1500 that have potentially been affected.

“Of those 51, just 10 have been paid in full or in part so I’m urging all affected farmers to lodge a claim and get themselves in the system,” Mrs Kuriger says.

The Government is going cap-in-hand to the primary sector seeking support to help eradicate the rapidly-spreading cattle disease Mycoplasma Bovis, National’s Primary Industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“It’s my understanding that the Ministry for Primary Industries is canvassing the dairy and red meat industry for contributions to fund the response and eradication of this disease.

“In Parliament yesterday the Minister Damien O’Connor couldn’t say how much money the Government is prepared to contribute to fully eradicate Mycoplasma Bovis.

“Knowing how tight the Government’s finances are because of its other big-spending commitments – and even with financial contributions from industry – Mr O’Connor has an uphill battle convincing his Cabinet colleagues how critical funding of over $100 million actually is,” Mr Guy says.

With the Minister confirming in Parliament that 23 properties are infected, 38 are restricted and a whopping 1500 are considered ‘trace’ properties, National’s Biosecurity Spokesperson Barbara Kuriger says New Zealand farmers deserve clarity and transparency from the Government around its plans to trace and eradicate the disease.

“Farmers are already dealing with challenging conditions, given the worsening droughts in many of our regions, now the uncertainty around the Government’s plans to contain Mycoplasma Bovis is adding unfair stress to the rural sector.

“Farmers deserve to know what plans are in place to contain the spread, and the Minister needs to be more open with the information he has received.

“Damien O’Connor has confirmed that he is regularly updated by MPI on the spread of the disease so if this Government truly believes in openness and transparency, then he should share that information with our farmers.

“It is crucial that we know what plans are in place to contain and eradicate Mycoplasma Bovis. Farmers need timelines to work with but all they have is a vague indication from the MPI that it is working towards a deadline in May. This simply isn’t good enough,” Mrs Kuriger says. 

Labour’s first 100 days in Government has earnt it a dismal report card as far as farmers are concerned, National’s Primary Industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“The Labour-led coalition has been in government for over 100 days now, yet all they have to show for it is the announcement of a series of expensive reviews and rebrands all the while staying silent on the big issues facing the sector right now.

“The minister Damien O’Connor is raiding $17 million out of the Primary Growth Partnership fund to rebrand MPI, at the expense of vitally important research and development funding – which is now being put on hold.

“He also appears to have shelved the funding and development of any new irrigation projects, just as much of the country is gripped in drought.

“Farmers in regions around the country have all but begged him to officially declare a drought in their areas – just to access some technical and emotional support.

“And for those farmers dealing with the spread of Mycoplasma Bovis cattle disease, there’s no good news. Mr O’Connor remains silent on committing the necessary funding to eradicate it as stock culling and compensation is currently on hold.

“My fear is that any bid to Cabinet for funding for eradication and then compensation will get ignored because of other big-spending priorities outside of the Primary Sector.

“I’m calling on the Minister and the Government he represents to step up and start advocating for a sector whose hard work has helped position New Zealand into the fast-growing economy it is today.

“Any slow-down in the rural economy will be felt across the country – and the Government will only have itself to blame,” Mr Guy says.

The Government is holding back regional New Zealand through its opposition to water storage projects which help grow jobs in the regions, boost exports and provide environmental sustainability National’s Primary Industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s description of funding for irrigation projects as ‘unnecessary’ will come as a huge shock to farmers - especially when he supports the construction of the Waimea Dam in his local area.

O’Connor’s stance that the Government will leave it to farmers and growers to 100% fund these schemes on their own is just as bad.

“The dry weather conditions and drought help prove that water storage is absolutely necessary. It reduces the need for ground water extraction and can enhance the environment by guaranteeing minimum river flows during dry summers

“Crown Irrigation Investments officials only this week told Select Committee MPs that stakeholders are ‘confused and anxious’ about the Government’s priorities for water storage and irrigation projects and this confusion is adding to declining business confidence overall.

“It’s no wonder people are confused - the Labour/NZ First coalition agreement says they will honour irrigation agreements, while the Labour/Greens one says they will be winding down Government support for irrigation. NZ First have also publicly stated they will support ‘localised’ projects.

“Right now, five specific - construction ready - irrigation projects (all considered ‘localised’ by officials) are on hold while funding allocated by the previous National Government is parked up. To make matters worse, many farmers and growers and Councils have themselves invested in developing these schemes and this 45,000 hectare investment is now at real risk.

The coalition Government has a moral and legal obligation to honour existing agreements and these five schemes have taken over a decade to be bulldozer ready in 2018.

“While the Government is in Waitangi trying to convince Northland iwi they want to work with them, they are in actually holding the region back. Water storage projects for Northland could irrigate up to 92,000 hectares, and provide over 3400 jobs.

“This Government is squabbling internally while the ground dries and opportunities burn.”

For noting:

The Northland Regional Council’s irrigation study can be found here.

The five irrigation projects on hold are in:

• Waimea (Tasman District)
• Kurow/Duntroon (Central Otago)
• Hurunui (North Canterbury)
• Flaxbourne (Marlborough)
• Hunter Downs (South Canterbury)

The cynical timing of a review of the Primary Growth Partnership over the summer break illustrates the coalition Government’s priorities do not lie with growing the primary sector, National Party Spokesperson for Primary Industries Nathan Guy says.

“Stakeholders have been given an impossibly small window of opportunity to provide feedback on the Government’s mindless proposals – it looks like the January 14 deadline has been set to ensure as little feedback as possible.

“MPI officials have even acknowledged that “this is not the best time of the year for such an exercise”.

“This is a slap in the face from the Government that claimed it would operate with openness and transparency.

“It’s clear that the tight time frames over the summer break are because the Minister doesn’t want any critical feedback from those on the front line of innovation.

“To make matters worse, there will be no new funding allocated to programmes while the review analysis is underway - and that’s likely to take several months.

“This all comes on the back of raiding $17 million from the PGP to fund an unnecessary rebranding of MPI.

“Damien O’Connor talks up how more collaboration is needed in the Primary Sector, yet doesn’t seem to realise it’s staring him in the face.”

Mr Guys says projects funded by the PGP include the Red Meat Profit Partnership which has six different meat entities working together to add value in the meat sector, as well as the Lifestyle Wines programme which has 11 wineries collaborating to produce wine with lower calories and alcohol.

“This review is blatantly timed to slip under the radar and is a smokescreen for the Government to raid research and development funding from the Primary Sector.

“Stakeholders have every reason to be very nervous of this new Government’s attitude towards the Primary Sector.”

The Minister for Primary Industries needs to officially declare a drought and mobilise the support mechanisms in place for farmers before it’s too late, National’s Primary Industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“NIWA’s Drought Index shows that most of the North Island is already either in drought or headed towards severe drought without substantial rain soon, and Westpac has today announced a relief package for farmers who’re already feeling the pressure.

“The Drought Index is a new scientific tool to help the Minister confirm when areas are in need of Government support, but it is being ignored.

“Damien O’Connor appears more focussed on rebranding MPI than supporting farmers and growers, proving yet again he was serious when he said the new Government would be “no friend of the farmer”.

“Worryingly, Rural Support Trust chair Neil Baker has confirmed the support line is taking more calls than ever from stressed farmers.

“The pressures drought brings are enormous. Watching helplessly as pasture and waterways evaporate, and livestock begin to suffer, is soul-destroying.

“Farmers are not immune to depression, and their isolation doesn’t help matters.

“Overarching all of this is the lack of clarity around irrigation projects. The Government is rapidly backing its way out of obligations to fund water storage and irrigation projects, and there has been talk of Shane Jones’ $1 billion regional development fund being used to help ‘localised’ water storage projects - but there has been no clarification as to what ‘localised’ actually means.

“Farmers, growers and rural communities deserve certainty about what is happening with these projects, instead of being made to anxiously wait while officials report back to Ministers by the end of summer.

“In the meantime, I urge Damien O’Connor to declare a medium scale adverse drought event, and at least enable some short term relief for farmers,” Mr Guy says.

To access the NIWA Drought Index go to the NIWA websitehttps://www.niwa.co.nz/climate/information-and-resources/drought-monitor

The Minister of Agriculture has announced millions of dollars will be spent on a wasteful and ill-conceived rebrand of the Ministry for Primary Industries, National’s Primary Industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“Damien O’Connor has announced that almost $20 million will be spent on splitting up a well-functioning Ministry all to appease the demands of Labour’s coalition.

“It’s nothing more than a pointless rebranding exercise. We put these three agencies together in 2011 and it’s a complete waste of money to pull them apart again.

“The worst part of it is though, that the money is essentially being fleeced from the Primary Growth Partnership Fund – used for essential research and development - to pay for bureaucracy.

“It’s just a waste of taxpayers’ money which would have been better invested in growing our primary industries,” Mr Guy says.

The Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, is under pressure on many fronts and his recent quote to the media that his Government “isn’t going to be a friend of the farmer” is already playing out, National’s spokesperson for Primary Industries Nathan Guy says.

The Primary Production Select Committee yesterday heard from NIWA and the Met Service that many parts of New Zealand are quickly approaching drought conditions. The Committee also heard from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Crown Irrigation Investments Limited (CIIL) that all irrigation projects currently receiving Government support are under review, due to the coalition agreement that states no new projects will be funded.

“Parts of New Zealand are in drought-like conditions already and this underpins why water storage is crucial. The new Government has a legal and moral duty to carry on supporting schemes in good faith, not backslide out of its obligations.

“Shane Jones $1 billion regional development fund may cover localised projects, but there’s no clarification as to what is considered a ‘localised’ project. Farmers and rural communities need certainty about the progress of these schemes now - not wait for officials to report back to Ministers at the end of Summer.

“There is further uncertainty for farmers, growers and taxpayers over the cost of smashing apart MPI, not to mention the thousands of employees suddenly facing unclear futures.

“In Parliament yesterday the Minister confirmed he has received a detailed briefing paper on the costs of creating the three new MPI entities (Forestry and Fisheries, as well as Food Safety and Biosecurity), but he stated there’s “no public interest” in releasing that information.

“Damien O’Connor is using an excuse normally used for information that is commercially sensitive, private or involving national security.

“It’s likely the briefing will detail tens of millions of dollars of spending on new office space, four new chief executive salaries, new IT systems, legal advice – and so much more disruption.

“I understand there is significant push back from MPI and the State Services Commission (SSC) who oppose the plans. The advice given by them will probably show how they are suggesting a work around to avoid tipping MPI on its head.

They are likely to propose things like changing uniforms and stickers on doors to avoid the Ministers sledgehammer and help him save face when the costs and uncertainty just don’t stack up.

“Just as this new Government is talking up its capacity for transparency, Mr O’Connor is being shifty.

“It’s hard to have faith in the coalition Government when he isn’t being upfront with farmers and exporters and this sort of secrecy keeps occurring,” Mr Guy says.