Heated discussion centred around why the New Zealand Government was proposing to reduce the amount of food New Zealand produces at a time when the rest of the world was worried about a food shortage.
The Government was accused of undermining farmers. The Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, specified that emissions reduction should not be to the detriment of food production. There were claims farmers had been branded as “environmental bandits” and were not being backed by the government.
Frustrated attendees questioned what New Zealanders were going to eat when productive farms were planted in pine trees, and what was going to happen to Wairoa when its agricultural-related employment and support services and businesses were gone. Other questions dealt with the Government's promotion of international air flights and tourism which contradicted its proposal of reducing emissions. Minister Nash was asked about his promotion of supporting local when the government's proposal could kill rural communities like Wairoa, which was in his electorate.
People at the meeting wanted to know why, when New Zealand produced the best food in the world, was one of the smallest global emitters and had the world's most carbon efficient farmers, the Government was not doing more with its export trade partners to encourage global change.
Attendees noted that the direct effect of the He Waka Eke Noa scheme was tax for farming animals, essentially taxing food production, and could therefore be perceived as a “food tax” at a time when New Zealanders could not afford to put food on the table.
There was concern that once productive farmland was planted in forestry. It was very likely it would never go back into productive farmland.
Mr Nash refuted many of the comments made by the audience, although he acknowledged too much land in Wairoa had been planted in trees, saying, “no one wants to see Wairoa close down”.
The Government was proposing changes to give councils more say on what land could be planted in forestry, but that legislation was not yet in place, he said. Any change needed to happen now, was the response from the meeting.
Mr Nash confirmed that emission reduction was being talked about globally, and the government wanted to see New Zealand's brand enhanced, and premiums paid, because of the work to realise net zero emissions by 2050.
MP Meka Whaitiri said while she recognised some people didn't feel their questions were answered, they had all been acknowledged and recorded and the notes from the evening will be shared.
She praised the work of Mayor Craig Little and his office for proactively arranging the discussion evening.
Mr Little said as a farmer he had real concerns over the proposal and the impacts it could have on Wairoa, and he shared the frustration of the local community.
He acknowledged and thanked the two local MPs for fronting up and listening to the community's concerns.
“We organised this meeting in four days, and it is the largest community meeting I have ever seen in Wairoa which shows how seriously our community is taking this proposal and the government's treatment of the whole agricultural industry, particularly when it is such a busy time of year for everyone.
“I am constantly asked why, when New Zealand is such a small country, it is trying to lead the world in zero-emissions which could end up breaking our country. He Waka Eke Noa translates to ‘a waka we are all in together'. Unfortunately, this government is choosing to not take our Wairoa district along for the ride.
“The number of people who attended Monday's meeting demonstrates the genuine concern our community has, and I thank you all for attending.
“From a council perspective we will be making a local submission and encourage everyone else to share their views.”
