By Nigel Billings, Senior Policy Advisor Advocating for farmers on rates is not easy work, but every year Federated Farmers has a crack at local council plans and budgets. This […]
Rates
Feds unanimous that action overdue on road maintenance shortfall
A call for the current and future government to place much higher priority on rural road maintenance won unanimous support from the Federated Farmers National Council. The remit, from the […]
Waikato PC1 battle has implications for farmers everywhere
By Paul Melville, GM Policy & Advocacy Federated Farmers staff commit huge hours to regional plan processes up and down New Zealand. Regional plans are really where the rubber hits […]
Why is HBRC not pushing for amnesty on RMA consents for cyclone clean-up?
Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay President Jim Galloway says farmers and growers are becoming increasingly frustrated and annoyed that council rules are hampering efforts to get their properties up and running […]
Pluses & minuses for farmers in local government review draft
By Nick Clark, Federated Farmers National Manager General Policy On 28 October the Review into the Future for Local Government released its draft report on its vision for local government, […]
Council review a chance to achieve better ratepayer equity
Yet another local government review is underway – but will its recommendations actually be picked up, especially regarding cost fairness? The existing system of property value rates is loaded against […]
Feds urges core infrastructure focus this Council triennium
There are myriad issues facing local government but always keep front of mind the topic that was likely top of the list of most residents’ concerns out on the campaign […]
Mayor contenders agree on water storage and ‘broken’ council funding model
By Simon Edwards They differed on priorities and approach but mayoral candidates for the Wairarapa’s three councils found some common ground on issues impacting farmers and the wider community. At […]
Water reform proposals ‘deeply flawed’
Bigger is not necessarily better – and probably won’t be in the case of the proposed new mega water services entities, Federated Farmers says. While there are problems with three […]
Council candidates deserve searching questions
With sweeping changes facing local government, and the very existence of some councils under threat, Federated Farmers is urging rural New Zealanders to step up their interest in the election […]
