We proudly replied that we are sheep and beef farmers - and his reaction to this information was appalling. He shook his head and stated, "Oh don't get me started on you farmers! I like clean drinking water!"
Needless to say that my partner and I were disgusted. But it was a response that, for me, summed up the continually expanding divide between those who live in towns and cities and those of us who choose the land for their home and career.
So I am writing to you to express how disappointed I am at the total lack of respect aimed at farmers in recent years from the residential public of New Zealand, the majority of whom, I feel quite safe in assuming, have never set foot on any sort of sheep and beef farm in their lives.
It is feeling increasingly like farmers are being bullied. 'Dirty water': blame the farmers, casually ignore the fact that towns and cities produce more pollution than what the hundreds of thousands of acres of farmed land in this country ever would, or could.
'Meat is expensive to purchase at the supermarket': blame the farmers, they are greedy. Never mind that they are at the bottom of the supply chain and in many cases, such as mine, cannot afford to buy their own product once it becomes property of the meat works and supermarket chains.
When a farmer has an accident and is injured, or sadly killed, in a four-wheeler accident, all of a sudden we need a group of people who no doubt have considerably less experience to puff out their chests and force us into policies and procedures which are impractical, unnecessary and in some cases, costly.
Never mind that hundreds of people are killed on our roads each year, yet I don't have to put on a helmet when I get into my car.
As farmers we respect our animals, and those few who don't are not successful. As farmers we respect our safety. We must. We work in remote parts of this great country and compromising on safe practices is not an option.
We do not need a mob of suit-wearing manicured 'know-it-alls' to tell us how to take care of ourselves on our properties. Farmers have an abundance of commonsense, and those who don't do not last long in the job.
We respect our environment and most importantly - and the driving factor behind this letter - we respect our water resources. We must; the health and wellbeing of our stock depends on good quality and readily available drinking water, those who do not, fail in the job.
It is time for someone to stand up for us farmers and say 'enough is enough' to those pointing their uninformed fingers.
I am aware that we have a representative in parliament, Nathan Guy. But not once have I seen or heard of him standing up and shaking his fists on behalf of our industry. He very clearly does not have the strength of character for that particular position.
Farmers are a resilient bunch; we work hard in all sorts of weather, we are mentally and physically strong, and we need a representative who also embodies these characteristics. Someone who can draw attention to what we do for this country every single day.
It concerns me that during a National government this industry has been copping such a battering. National is...was...the farmers' party. But this no longer seems to be the case. I will vote for you this election, but my vote will be driven by the devastating consequences a Labour-led government would have on the industry I love - not because National will do great things for me, my dad, my employers and my farming friends.
Wouldn't it be nice if I could tick the blue box, not because it's the best of a few bad options, but because I believe in the party and the future it can create for me?
Katie Kenyon
Porangahau
(Abridged)
