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.
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."
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.
"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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