'There's no analysis': Bridges lashes plan to reduce NZ's dairy cows as 'an assault on regions'

May 7, 2018

National’s leader says the government has done no analysis or planning before recklessly announcing a cull on cattle numbers.

National leader Simon Bridges says the government’s plans to reduce dairy cow numbers is an "assault on the regions" and he fears the regulations will create a rural-urban divide.

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Environment minister David Parker told Q+A yesterday the government may regulate to restrict nitrate use, in essence reducing cow numbers, in parts of the country to protect waterways from the harmful impact of dairy farming.

"I get very worried that this is an urban versus rural thing and I think we need to be very clear that we are all in this together," Mr Bridges told Breakfast.

Mr Bridges said New Zealand's economy relied on the dairy industry and that the government hadn't done any planning or analysis.

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"If the farmers sneeze, we all catch a cold.

"That's literally how we pay for our healthcare and education."

"I think it's very similar to oil and gas, there's no analysis, no plan, just do it. You could say it's bold, I would argue reckless."

David Parker says farmers in some parts of the country may have to do this to meet tough new rules being considered.

Mr Bridges said incentivising moves to horticulture were not enough.

"A few apricots ain't going to cut it, it's all very well saying those things but if that was such a good idea it would be happening.

The boss of Dairy NZ says the dairy industry wants to find the sweet spot between the environmental outcomes, social impact and maintaining profitable farms in a global sense.

"I come from a horticulture area, I see the benefits of those types of things but there are a whole bunch of reasons including our comparative and competitive advantages why we are big in dairying."

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