25 March 2014

UnitedFuture Opposes Calls to Restrict Public Access

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne calls by the Rural News for farmers to ban access to their land by hunters and fishers because of Fish and Game’s opposition to current dairying practices are “irrational and irresponsible.”

“With the water quality of many of our rivers now too bad for people to be able to swim safely, and mounting public concern about the environmental impacts of intensified dairy operations, Fish and Game and other recreational organisations have every right to call the dairy sector to account.

“Increasing world demand for New Zealand dairy products is good for our economy, at least in the short term, but does not justify environmental disregard as more and more land is converted to dairy use.

“There has to be a balance, and farming groups cannot pretend that environmental responsibility is nothing to do with them,” he says.

Mr Dunne, who is also Associate Conservation Minister, says Rural News’ lashing out and threatening recreationists with access to land being denied is “kneejerk bullying of the worst kind.”

“It is everyone’s interests – farmers and recreationists alike – that the environmental integrity of our high country and waterways be preserved and enhanced.

“Farming groups and groups like Fish and Game should be working together to address, not throwing rocks the way Rural News is, when the going gets tough.

ENDS

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