Source: Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers is calling on farmers to sign a petition urging the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Colin Hurst, Federated Farmers vice president, says farmers are fed up with a consenting system that’s far too complex, costly and uncertain.
“People are feeling really stressed with this whole situation. Our members are telling us getting a new consent, or renewing an old one, has become a total nightmare.
“Things seem to be getting so much more complicated, expensive and uncertain every year. Farmers are frustrated and it’s really starting to boil over.
“That’s why Federated Farmers is drawing a line in the sand. We’ve decided enough is enough – it’s time to send a strong message to the Government.
“We want farmers to sign our petition calling on the Government to urgently step in and put a stop to this madness.”
Specifically, the petition asks the Government to allow all existing consents to roll over until the new resource management system is up and running.
“With thousands of consents due to expire in the coming months, this situation is now getting urgent and requires immediate intervention.
“It’s great the Government is working on replacing the RMA with a more workable framework, but in the meantime, councils are continuing to enforce a system that’s clearly not working.
“Until the new law is in place, we need certainty so farmers have the confidence to keep farming, investing in our businesses and supporting our communities.”
Hurst says all farmers with an existing consent should be able to continue under it until the reforms are completed.
A recent Federated Farmers survey confirms the scale of the problem.
Four out of five farmers worry about gaining or renewing consents, and the average cost of a new consent has hit nearly $45,000, with renewals not far behind at $28,000.
Canterbury farmers are forking out over $60,000 in some cases.
“It’s sobering that the average total cost farmers are being stung with for regional council and consultancy fees is $45,000,” Hurst says.
“These numbers paint a damning picture of a system that’s simply not working.”
The survey also highlighted bureaucratic delays, repetitive requests for information, and inconsistent costs for consulting with affected parties such as iwi.
“Our survey backed up what we were hearing anecdotally – that the system is broken,” Hurst says.
“Farmers are being asked for more and more information, which forces them to rely on – and pay large sums for – consultants and expert advisers.
“And even after doing everything they can to provide that information, there’s still absolutely no certainty the council won’t come back asking for more information or money.”
He says that uncertainty is paralysing farmers.
“How can farming families have confidence to keep investing in their businesses if they don’t even know if they’ll be allowed to keep farming next year?
“That uncertainty is really holding back growth and productivity.”
Hurst says the consents being issued now may end up being redundant once the new RMA comes into force.
“It’s a waste of everyone’s time and money,” he says. “If nothing changes, it’ll just mean more stress and confusion for farmers.”
He says the message from the petition will be clear: “Let’s end the consent chaos and give farmers the certainty they deserve.”
Farmers can add their voices to the petition at www.consentingcrisis.nz