1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: We had a warning from the Howt folks the smalling 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: vegetable price is going to skyrocket if the government doesn't 3 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: straighten out the fresh water policy plans. Comes out of 4 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: a report by the end z I they reckon broccoli 5 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: could hit nine bucks ahead hot in. New Zealand's general 6 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: Manager of Strategy and Policy, Michelle Sands, is with us. Michelle, 7 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: good morning, Good morning. This is all to do with 8 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:17,959 Speaker 1: nitrogen runoff and stuff like that. 9 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's about the fresh fruit water rules. And at 10 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: the moment there isn't any recognition that vegetable growing and 11 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 2: enabling the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for New 12 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 2: Zealand as a matter of national importance. So when counsels 13 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: make their rules at the moment, they haven't been paying 14 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: enough attention to the impact of those rules on the 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 2: supply of vegetables. And so we have rules that are 16 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: related to water quality that mean that vegetable production could 17 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 2: be seriously threatened in the Wakatu and horizons. 18 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: But the same rules as applicable to farming and all 19 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: the yankst in places like Southland that the farmers are 20 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: worried about. You're worried about from the vegetable department. 21 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: It is a bit different forgetables. It's really important that 22 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 2: they rotate, and what we have is rules that are 23 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: preventing growers from rotating, and so growers need to rotate 24 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 2: for soil health. And at the moment, rules classify rotation 25 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: as new activities and prevent that from happening, and so what. 26 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: So it is a little bit different to what's being 27 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: what the farmers are experiencing. Growers are absolutely committed to 28 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: undertaking good management practices. Of course they want is a 29 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 2: permitted activity which allows them to grow the vegetables that 30 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 2: we need, provided they are implementing. 31 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: Here's what I've never understood, Michelle. First of all, we 32 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: need vegetables, and I would have thought that that was, 33 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: you know, just just a given. But farmers like you 34 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: know where your cows or lettuces. No one sets out 35 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: to ruin your property, which ruins your business, which ruins 36 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: your livelihood, do they It's. 37 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 2: An unintended consequence. But the RMA has become extremely complicated. 38 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: We've been in regional planning processes that have lasted for 39 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: ten years and the end of it, no one can 40 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: make hea or tail of the rules. So what we 41 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: need is the government to come and to make it 42 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 2: very clear in the Resource Management at Bill that they're 43 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 2: putting before the House by the end of this year, 44 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: that vegetable production, that enabling the supply of vegetables as 45 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: a matter of national importance to New Zealanders and they 46 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: need to deliver on the promise that national made at 47 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 2: the election to make vegetable production and promoted activity. 48 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: I shall follow it up with the Prime and stro 49 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: on Tuesday and see we're at with that. Appreciate your time, 50 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: Michelle Sandshort New Zealand ten years. Eh, Why wouldn't you 51 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: want to sit around for ten years and then end 52 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 1: up with something you don't understand? 53 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 2: For more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 54 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: news talks there'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 55 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.