Agriculture and Rural Affairs - Policy Summary

Note: This was the policy released for the 2005 election. An updated policy for the 2008 election will be released shortly.

Read the full Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy

Key Principles

• All rural production land should be managed in ecologically sustainable ways.
• New Zealand's international trading reputation as a supplier of high quality produce depends on our clean, green image.
• The New Zealand environment must be kept GE free.
• Animals must be treated humanely.

Specific Policy Points

Sustainable Land Use

• Incentives for cleaning up our rivers (eg by riparian planting,
  preventing soil erosion and nutrient run-off).
• Set targets for reducing the use of agrichemicals, and set levies on their use.
• Prohibit cross-boundary spray drift where consent is not given by neighbours.

Organics

• Ten percent of New Zealand farms to be certified organic by 2010.
• Fund a regionally-based advisory and mentoring service.
• Short-term loans and guarantees to producers making the switch to organics.
• Move public good science funding out of GE and into organics.
• Include organics in all agriculture courses.

Sustainable Rural Communities

• Ensure rural communities have essential infrastructure and access to services.
• Encourage local processing plants run by local producers.
• Land ownership for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only.

Trade

• Target high-value markets with value-added products.
• Support co-operative processing and marketing.

Treatment of Animals

• Ban shipping of live farm animals on journeys longer than 24 hours.
• Phase out within 5 years the use of crates for sows.
• Phase out within 5 years the use of battery cages for hens.

Biosecurity and GE

• Ban field- testing and production of GE foods.
• Work towards a ban on GE food imports, and meanwhile label GE foods clearly.
• A biosecurity levy on all containers and passengers arriving in New Zealand.
• High level container inspections and quarantine facilities.

Public Access

• A public access commissioner to develop a code of conduct for access.
• Financial support for landowners to erect signs and fences.
• Take te Tiriti o Waitangi into account in access, waahi tapu and resource management issues.