Farmers heading to capital

By CLAIRE TREVETT

The tentacles of a rolling protest by farmers against the so-called fart tax are spreading further afield.

Convoys of farmers' vehicles bedecked in placards have made their way from Wellsford to Pokeno this week.

As the convoy reached new towns, farmers passed on the baton - a pile of petition forms instigated by Act MP Gerry Eckhoff - to fellow farmers to take it closer to its final destination of Wellington.

The petition will be presented at Parliament on September 4.

The convoy has gained momentum, growing from nine vehicles in Wellsford to 45 in Auckland and about 60 in Pukekohe yesterday.

The protest is a last-ditch attempt to force the Government to change its mind before it decides in a few weeks on a way to collect the tax to fund research on methane gas emissions from sheep and cows.

Waikato is next in line for the convoy, with a rally tomorrow.

Waikato Federated Farmers president John Fisher said convoy vehicles would gather at 11.30am and then drive through central Hamilton.

The protest would end with sausages and speeches in Garden Place. Mr Eckhoff, National's Shane Ardern and NZ First leader Winston Peters were expected to attend.

Further afield, the Taranaki branch of Federated Farmers was plotting its route.

Taranaki president Neville Hagenson said the petition was expected to hit Mokau on Monday and would be carried through New Plymouth and farming towns, before being delivered to the Wanganui branch.

Southland Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson said a rally involving a march with quad-bikes, dogs and horses would be held in Invercargill on Saturday.

Those expected to attend include National Party leader and Southland MP Bill English, colleague David Carter, Mr Eckhoff, NZ First's Doug Wollerton and United Future leader Peter Dunne.

A Herald-DigiPoll survey indicates the protesters have about 80 per cent support from the public.