28 October 2004
Rural Women call for rational debate on land access
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says that Federated Farmers aren’t the only ones seeking reassurance from Government that
the security rights of rural families are properly considered in land access legislation.
RWNZ’s Land Convenor, Patricia Gordon, believes that Jim Sutton’s attack on Federated Farmers over land access shows how
unsympathetic the Minister of Rural Affairs is to genuine rural concerns.
RWNZ and other rural advocacy groups have made submissions on this issue and feel that core issues are not being
acknowledged.
“Rural people throughout the country are demanding a thorough consultation process before this new legislation is
passed, yet all of this policy has been developed behind closed doors,” says Mrs Gordon
RWNZ has been informed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry that reports are being prepared for the Minister’s
review only, and are not for public discussion.
“Due to a lack of information, the debate inevitably becomes politicised and views are polarised.”
Mrs Gordon says that while rational debate is sorely needed, this cannot be done without information about what the
government proposes to do.
“The Minister’s Rural Affairs portfolio is a nonsense, meaning that this legislation is being formulated in isolation of
the people who will be most affected by it.” Mrs Gordon says.
“Public access was not a problem in the past, so why impose legislations that may force landowners to feel that locking
their gates is the only solution to health and safety, biosecurity, and personal security concerns?”
ENDS