Federated Farmers refuse to sign river accord

Relevant offers

Farming

Grower anger over Zespri manager's trip Fay group would meet Chinese undertakings Bumper year for sheep and beef Greens: Crafar approval politically motivated Competition in dairy sector vital - Synlait China 'will see Crafar ruling as racist' Prices fall at GlobalDairyTrade auction Crafar setback may force law change Crafar sale roadblock may soon be cleared Reconsider Crafar farms deal, Government told

Federated Farmers has refused to sign an accord to clean up the polluted Manawatu River.

Tararua Federated Farmers president John Barrow said his members were not happy with statements in the regional leaders' accord which farmers viewed as "emotional and unscientific" on the state of the river.

An example of the "emotive" language was a description of the river as lacking in life, when it was not actually biologically dead, and he said members did not like the focus on the river being cleaned up by the parties discharging effluent and other contaminants.

The accord was signed three weeks ago by 27 industry, council, environmental and iwi groups, and though Federated Farmers baulked at the last minute, it said it would sign later.

It has now refused to sign, and tried to promote its own version, as "the people's accord" but has been barred from future meetings of the regional leaders' forum.

United Future leader Peter Dunne today accused Federated Farmers of paying only "lip service" to the problem of animal effluent going into waterways.

Labour's environment spokesman Charles Chauvel said Federated Farmers had misjudged community backing for the clean-up of the river.

"Every New Zealander wants to see a profitable dairying sector," Mr Chauvel said. "But Kiwis are increasingly aware that too many of our rivers are no longer able to be swum in, fished from or drunk out of."

Farmers were big contributors to this problem and needed to step up and play their part in finding solutions, he said.

- NZPA