Mike Finlayson: A Saturday well spent

Mike Finlayson

It was great to see farmers keen on doing the right thing to keep stock out of waterways, many taking the initiative before it becomes compulsory.

I'd like to thank all the people who came down to the NRC's stand at the Kaitaia market on Saturday to have their say on our long-term plan (www.nrc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Council-Projects/long-term-plan-2018-2028/). It was great getting a handle on the range of views out there in the community.

Sometimes you get the impression that farmers and 'greenies' are on two different planets, but that is not the feeling I got on Saturday.

Many farmers were saying the same thing as the greenies: "We have to do a good job protecting our environment, as it is what provides us with an economy".

With the advent of faux meat and milk (made from plant proteins, having a much smaller environmental footprint and getting cheaper all the time) there seemed strong agreement that if NZ Inc wants to prosper then we need to be attracting a premium return on premium products.

So it makes 'cents' to have a great environmental story to tell on top of the sustainable production of healthy grass-fed stock that is GE-free and not pumped full of dodgy hormones.

The necessity to add value to our raw commodities also came across strongly, especially as it could benefit employment statistics. People want to see real jobs created up here, quickly.

Roading was another big thing, with residents not happy with third world conditions on many of our highways. The four-lane highway from Auckland to Whangarei certainly didn't seem very fair when our roads in the Far North are constantly falling apart, and are often impassable due to flooding.

It was great to see farmers keen on doing the right thing to keep stock out of waterways, many taking the initiative before it becomes compulsory.

I encouraged them to take advantage of our free farm planning service to help control erosion and limit nutrients and e-coli in waterways. The NRC provides up to 50 per cent of the costs of riparian fencing.

The Awanui flood protection scheme, a big worry of mine, didn't get a mention. Am I the only person who has nightmares about Bell's Hill falling into the Awanui River, causing another 1958 event, when the town was nearly two metres under water?

A recent High Court ruling affirmed that regional councils can act in the marine space out to 12 nautical miles to protect marine biodiversity. Have you got any ideas on what we should be doing in this space?

This is just the start of the LTP; it will be a year before it is finalised. If you missed us down at the markets, don't worry. You can go online (www.surveymonkey.com/r/ltp2018) and tell us your ideas and priorities around a healthy environment, a thriving economy and strong communities.

So don't be shy. It's vital that you have your say about what the regional council's objectives and priorities should be. If your organisation wants some direct input I'd be happy to visit and discuss any issues or ideas you have.

¦mikef@nrc.govt.nz