Farmer and grower frustration with the New Zealand Government became much more visible to the whole of New Zealand last Friday. Widespread public publicity like this is important to gaining the attention of Members of Parliament (MPs) and bureaucrats.
This Government, unlike most since the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system was introduced after a referendum in 1993, has a majority. In other words, it does not need to rely on the support of any other political party. This Government also has clear policies around labor, the environment, and the kind of New Zealand society they want to see.
HortNZ’s approach is to engage meaningfully and constructively with MPs and Government officials. They take this approach because if they don’t, horticulture would get left out, and there would be no chance of contributing to Government policy and how it is implemented across the horticulture sector.
"Our overall approach goes something like this: ‘you keep on saying that horticulture is needed for New Zealand’s post-Covid economic recovery and environmental objectives. That’s great. But the horticulture industry needs labor, land and water, and the ability to get products to overseas markets in an economically viable manner. Unless you support horticulture in these key areas, the industry will not be able to deliver on your objectives," writes Nadine with HortNZ.
Wellington is a world away from growing in regional New Zealand. Horticulture New Zealand’s role, working with product groups and growers directly, is to bridge that gap and give growers a loud, meaningful and clear voice.
