A PACKED venue showed farmers in Taumarunui firmly against emission taxes. PHOTO RUAPEHU FEDERATED FARMERS/FACEBOOK
A MEETING on the Government’s latest recommendations for new taxes to reduce agricultural emissions attracted about 300 people to the Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club last week. With such high numbers the planned venue, a smaller room at Taumarunui RSA, was abandoned on the night. Many present expressed alarm at the potential of the recently announced agricultural emissions plan to force sheep and beef farmers off the land, crippling small towns like Taumarunui in the process.
DELIGHTED AT TURNOUT Ruapehu Federated Farmers president Luke Pepper, who organised the event to rally opposition to the measures, said he was delighted at the turnout. “The ag emissions tax proposal, or as we call it the ‘hill country farm clearance tax’, would only accelerate conversion of pasture farms into forestry,” Luke said. This was widely understood to be the case by those who turned out, he added, with the concerned residents spanning farmers, town business owners, tradespeople, students and the retired. “They represented a great cross section of our community, both young and old.”
TROUBLE AHEAD Luke said attendees saw trouble ahead. Rather than being an agricultural service town with farmers coming in and spending money locally, the ultimate effect of the taxes on pasture farming could be one of towns surrounded by pine forests, with farms in the minority. “We explained some of the science behind the proposals, which we think its flawed, plus the disastrous potential for rural areas like ours. “We called upon everyone to put in individualised submissions, telling the Government how these (proposed carbon taxes) would affect farm, business, school or community.” Luke said Ruapehu Federated Farmers hoped to work with Ruapehu District Council to encourage and coordinate submissions. The Government’s proposals were drafted after it considered recommendations from He Waka Eke Noa — Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership — on how to reduce food and fibre sector emissions.
ENGAGEMENT He Waka Eke Noa engaged with farmers and growers over the past three years and recommended a farm-level pricing system as the best way to encourage emissions reductions from agriculture. He Pou a Rangi – the Climate Change Commission – also contributed its own recommendations and Government proposals would build on these. Pricing agricultural emissions at a farm-level was regarded by the Government as the best opportunity for the country to meet its climate change targets.
ALTERNATIVE NEEDED But if an alternative pricing system was not implemented by January 1, 2025, the Climate Change Response Act 2002 stated that agricultural emissions would be priced under the New Zealand Emission Trading Scheme (NZETS). Feedback was being sought on how a proposed farm-level emissions price levy would be set, governance arrangements of the system, how farmers and growers would report and pay for their emissions and how the Government would recognise on-farm sequestration. Agriculture made up half of the country’s gross emissions and it was anticipated the proposals would provide incentives for farmers and growers to take further action to reduce them. Consultation would close on November 18. Meanwhile, submission forms can be found on the Ministry for the Environment Website. Once submissions have been considered, final proposals will go to Ministers for approval early next year.
