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Farmers react to Green Party call for quarantine of rehabilitated farmland, see 'cheap headlines' designed to undermine exporters

Rural News
Farmers react to Green Party call for quarantine of rehabilitated farmland, see 'cheap headlines' designed to undermine exporters

Content supplied by Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers Taranaki is concerned the Green Party’s scaremongering over rehabilitated landfarms is putting at risk New Zealand’s number one merchandise export.

“Politicians and political parties have a higher duty when it comes to what they say or do,” says Harvey Leach, Federated Farmers Taranaki provincial president.

“The Green Party media release I saw is like going into a packed theatre and yelling fire. I think we are hitting new lows in politics when the sum total of a political party’s research effort is a television news segment."

“Unlike that party, Federated Farmers has asked questions and knows there is a double testing regime in place for rock cuttings and clays."

“Taranaki Regional Council is incredibly rigorous in what it does. The Council tests ground conditions to ensure things are as they should be. Fonterra further tests for contaminants when it collects milk to ensure integrity of the entire milk supply chain."

“The science is clear; there is no issue here. Of course you don’t want the truth to get in the way of a bad story."

“Politicians misrepresenting the truth is low-ball stuff.  They are calling into question the integrity of a major regional council which is the most experienced we have in dealing with oil and gas."

“It also puts at risk our $12 billion dairy export industry by questioning the integrity of our major dairy exporters. We are being ankle-tapped by politicians who get paid by our hard work and that of other hard working kiwis.  We deserve much better."

“Farmers will be predictably disappointed in the Green Party because they seem willing to throw decent hard working people under a bus to get a cheap headline.  It is nasty politics spun at its worst,” Mr Leach concluded. 

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6 Comments

The Government and farming leaders sat on the DCD problem for over a month, then we have been mislead about the China meat access problem. 

Trust is a delicate thing, i suggest Fed Farmers  and the Govt, clean their own act up first.

 

 http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4162&Itemid=436

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You seriously are a one track pony Andy Pandy. Yes, we get it, you don't like dairy farmers, John Key, Fonterra or pretty much anyone else for that matter. If you can't see this as inane muck raking and a continuum of the decline in NZ politics then I feel sorry for you.

 

 

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I couldn't see the article. I was not impressed with our leaders handling of the DCD or the China Meat issues.

 I agree there is a decline in NZ politics but its not confined only to the opposition parties.

  Fonterra I believe is going to let you dairy farmers down. Im happy to wait and see what unravels over the next few years.

  I have some great dairy farmer friends but I must say some of the larger coporates in the area are less desirable.

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Russell Norman after last nights Campbell Live nothing short of a Traitor

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Why did Campbell Live enter into such public arrangements? - maybe you should take this issue up with the appropriate complaints/standards authority - not much to do with financial decision making going on here.

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Didn't think it was political, the sound bites from Russell almost didn't fit with the article. I thought it was just cr&p journalism.

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