Countryside's Plea To Towns: Elect A Government That Allows Rural Growth
Federated Farmers today issued a plea to urban voters to elect a government with policies that would allow rural growth.
Federated Farmers President Alistair Polson said, "Rural New Zealand is dependent on urban voters to elect a government
with policies that allowed rural areas to prosper".
"Rural New Zealand is saying to urban voters: Please elect a government that does not get in the way. We can provide
jobs, growth and exports in an environmentally friendly manner if we are not burdened by costly government policies."
"The agricultural sector is the backbone of New Zealand's economy. The New Zealand agricultural sector accounts for
around 15.2% of New Zealand's total GDP and employs 17.7% of the workforce, almost one in five workers. Our sector's
exports make up almost 60% of New Zealand's merchandise exports."
"Agriculture provides a great many jobs and high levels of prosperity, but job growth and development is at the mercy of
government policy and regulations."
"Urban voters will decide Saturday's election. Rural New Zealanders urge those voters to consider the impact of the
various parties' policies on the economy."
"Rural New Zealand have serious concerns about plans to introduce new workplace legislation, and to scrap ACC reforms,
reforms saving the meat and dairy industry an estimated $25m in costs. In other policy areas, plans to direct
agriculture into one niche market or another will fail as spectacularly as the schemes of the early 80's."
"We need a government that understands the importance of the agricultural sector and has the economic and social
policies that allows rural growth and development. Political power now rests with urban areas, so rural people are
depending on urban voters to choose a sensible government that will not hinder the export sector."
"Ideology is all very well when drafting up election policies, but it is the pragmatic and practical effect on rural New
Zealand that is concerning rural Kiwis."
"Some parties will take rural New Zealand backwards, overturning past reforms or implementing policies different to what
farmers, or our international customers, demand."
ENDS