Government announcement to amend RMA, Registration of interest for farmer-focused B+LNZ Freshwater Policy Position Workshops, Government woolshed meetings being held nationwide, Climate Change Commission methane targets consultation meetings
Spotted something in our weekly e-diary newsletters and need to refer to it again?
This page contains this week’s e-diary national notices.
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See elsewhere on our website for other e-diary info:
This week’s notices:
Government announcement to amend RMA
On Tuesday, the Government announced a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) to make urgent changes to the resource management system, particularly in relation to stock exclusion, winter grazing and SNAs. This is something B+LNZ has long been asking for as the current rules have been problematic and impractical in their one-size fits all approach. A farmer email went out earlier this week around what these changes might mean. Read the farmer email here.
Registration of interest for farmer-focused B+LNZ Freshwater Policy Position Workshops
During the first two weeks of June, B+LNZ's Environment Policy and Advocacy Team will be running four farmer workshops to help B+LNZ develop a package of freshwater policy positions. Farmer input is vital to ensure sheep meat and beef farming businesses are productive, profitable, and sustainable. The workshops will be 3–4 hours long and located at two South Island and two North Island locations (dates and venues to be confirmed). Farmer input is vital to policy position development for B+LNZ. If you would like to provide input through these workshops, please register your interest here or by emailing May.Ponsonby@beeflambnz.com
Government woolshed meetings being held nationwide
The Government’s Agriculture Ministers – Ministers McClay, Hoggard and Patterson – have organised woolshed meetings around New Zealand to hear from farmers. B+LNZ encourages our farmers to attend, to ensure Ministers hear about the issues facing our sector. Meetings will run through until July – we’ll keep you updated through e-diaries and our other channels. The next meeting is in Blenheim, at 1.30pm on Friday 3 May, at the Caythorpe Family Estate, 487 Middle Renwick Road, RD1, Fairhall. Keep an eye out for upcoming meetings in Rangitikei, East Coast, and Southland.
Climate Change Commission methane targets consultation meetings
The Climate Change Commission is running sessions around New Zealand on its consultations on the methane reduction targets and related issues. See our earlier e-diary story for more info. The sessions provide further information and the chance to ask questions and make comments. Remaining meetings will be held in Te Awamutu (Wed 1 May), Wellsford (Thu 2 May), Nelson (Mon 6 May), Gore (Mon 13 May), Oamaru (Tue 14 May) – registration required (click on the location link). See the Commission’s website for further details or email engagement@climatecommission.govt.nz if you have questions. B+LNZ disagrees with what the Commission is proposing and will be making a submission that methane should only be asked to do what is being asked of other gases, which is to achieve no additional warming. We also encourage farmers to have their say on the targets – we’ll also be providing information to assist with making a submission soon. Consultation closes on 31 May.