Hope for over-regulated farmers

Hugh Pearse, owner of Hawea Farms, Elsthorpe, is helping to organise a farmers' meeting to raise concerns over the Health and Safety Reform Bill if it is passed. Photo / File

Farmers feeling "over-regulated" by Worksafe protocols will hold a meeting today to challenge the "over the top" health and safety regulations.

All interested parties are invited to attend a local meeting which will run under the banner "By Farmers for Farmers," and will discuss the Health and Safety Reform Bill.

The public meeting will be held in the Havelock North Club at 3pm.

The purpose of meeting is to collectively find solutions to the lack of consultation by regulatory bodies, the over-regulation of the agricultural industry, the iron-fisted approach of the regulatory bodies and the liability of farm owners for accidents.

Paul Robinson of Kahuranaki Station said the regulations were getting out of control.

He has combined forces with Hugh Pearse, owner of Hawea Farms, to organise the meeting.

The mountain of paper work and regulations will not prevent accidents occurring, Mr Robinson said.

"Piles of paperwork will not prevent death," he said.

"We need more training and better trainers."

Mr Robinson feels farmers are not getting their say.

"The decisions are being made at a corporate level, not at the grassroots farming level," he said. "We need to get as much support as possible so the government will listen."

He believes the better solution would be for the farmer himself to assess the risk and for the worker to take responsibility for himself.

A website has been created where farmers can sign a petition challenging the Bill, if it is passed " 10,000 signatures are required.

To sign, please visit: the petitionnsite.com/307/633/465/by-farmers-for-farmers/