DairyNZ Chief Executive Dr Tim Mackle. Photo / Supplied
Green Party and Labour Party policymakers want to hit dairy farmers with a trifecta of environmental taxes that could cost an average of $18,000 per year for each farm, and for those farmers that draw water for irrigation the cost would be in excess of $63,000 per year, says DairyNZ
chief executive Dr Tim Mackle.
"But unlike winning the trifecta at the horse races, there's nothing for New Zealand's dairy farmers to celebrate," says Dr Mackle.
Listen to The Country Early Edition's Dom George's interview with Dr Tim Mackle in the Soundcloud embed below:
He notes that of New Zealand's 12,000 dairy herds, 2,000 use irrigation.
"The tax trifecta would severely reduce dairy farm profitability, and possibly require additional borrowing for some farmers to meet expenditure. It would impact the success of our rural economy, and put at stake the livelihood of our rural communities."
"Rather than strongly taxing dairy, we want strong Government direction to get all sectors - rural and urban - to work together through an economy-wide plan to reduce New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions over the longer term."
