The Taranaki region has not had a Covid-19 case reported since April, some five months ago. So it was music to my ears when the Prime Minister confirmed we would be dropping down to alert level 1 and the restrictions on gatherings and on our movements were effectively returning to
From the mayor's desk: Farmers deserve praise not criticism
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Stratford mayor Neil Volzke.
There is a massive disconnect between the reality of what goes into good farming practices, especially dairying, and what city dwellers think might happen. The compliance rules and associated costs are enormous, the science being applied across the sector is incredible and the desire to have a sustainable industry is overwhelming. If New Zealand is to truly have a future as a leading food producer to the world, we should be looking to support and encourage farmers to lead the way to success. Continuously knocking them is not the answer.
Diversifying the food-producing sector in Taranaki is one of the key actions in our regional economic development plan and was included long before we were struck by the Covid-19 pandemic. The development of new foods has huge potential in this region as we transition away from some of the traditional industries like oil and gas - farmers will remain the mainstay of our regional economy.
So on behalf of all of us in the district, I would like to say a genuine thank you to all involved in our vital agriculture sector, you do a damn good job.