July 10, 2025 • 5 mins
Federated Farmers’ new national meat and wool chair farms in Marlborough. He discusses how Feds is keeping a close eye on flood-affected farmers in the region. Plus, he says the Save Our Sheep campaign is still going strong.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, we head to Marlborough and feeds meet and wheel
chair and of course are yeah, some challenging times down
in that part of the world, particularly over the Hill
from the Marlboro region. Richard Dawkins joins, now.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Get I Richard, Yeah, house things famish, Yeah, not too bad.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
But we're here in Auckland. I've been down in the
Mantle or two bit lately where the weather has been
pretty good. But I tell you what, over the sort
of matchiache away some pretty concerning signs. I mean, she's
pretty wet now, but worse might be to come.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yeah, it could well be on its way. And look
here in Marlborough. I don't want to understate those who
are affected there. There has been a bit of damage
up the wire Ol Valley and other roading issues around
the region. But like you say, over the Hill and
the Motte Valley are our thoughts are really with those people.
And yeah, Federated Farmers have certainly been active, keeping in
touch with people and just offering what assistance we can.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Is there anyway, is there an eight hundred number for
people who might want to help out further or those
who need help. What's the sort of what's this what's
the system there.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, so look, there's areas avenues people can take if
they do want to lend a hand or so you've
obviously got real support trust civil defense, rural women always
do a great job of connecting people. But look, oh
eight hundred farming is the FEDS contact any questions or queries,
just called that number.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Oh eight hundred farming. There you go, and I'll make
sure I repeat that as well. Look, look, without getting
too grave on it, but there are one or two
shocking stories, aren't there, you know, and people who just
who just do not need any more of the wet stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah. Yeah, And look, we're keeping a close eye on
what's going on, particularly with key members in the community.
And also actually we you know, fed's has actually reached
out to every member over there's a check in just
to see what report is required. And yeah, we're hearing
about you know, twenty twenty people have sort of had
major impacts and the situation's pretty dire to be honest.
(01:56):
So yeah, we're connecting people where we can.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yeah, okay, so it's good to know that the hard
yards are going in to help out those people who
are affected. What are you hearing sort of around the country.
Are there any other pockets that have been adversely affected?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Oh, look at it certainly. Wet is definitely the theme
around the country. Just jetting to the Meat and Will Council.
As people are probably aware, we've got twenty four members
in twenty four regions. But yeah, look the focus is
certainly on the top of the South just at the moment.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Now, just on the Save our Sheep campaign. Is this
something that's still happening.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely so. Yes, Toby did a fantastic job
of launching the Save our Sheep campaign and look, it
was highly it is highly successful. It gained a lot
of traction and yeah, just a timing thing with our
AGM and getting the council around the table and just
working out, hey, what are the current issues and what
are the future issues going to be for the sheep
(03:01):
and b sector. So, like I said, all twenty four
council members had input there and we've come up with
our list of priorities, our list of actions. So if
I could list those off for your Hamish, that would
be great.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Are ye far away? Tell us what's next? Love to know?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, yeah, So top of the list on the Council's
mind was, Yeah, obviously this land use change into carbon farming,
which is what Save our Sheep was launched based on
that issue, and this is an example of the work
that goes on behind the scenes. The social media is
(03:37):
excellent for getting the word out there, but we've got
this powerhouse of fifty staff at Feeds and we've been
battling away. So on Tuesday I'm actually speaking to the
Select Committee. We're just rarely concerned that the way the
Climate Change Amendment Bill is constructed is it's not actually
going to be very effective at stopping that land use change.
(03:58):
So yeah, we'll we speak to that. We're looking for
the carbon credit restriction so companies will only be able
to receive carbon credits on twenty five percent of the plantings.
We're looking for that to actually apply to all land
use classes. Currently, as the bill sits, it's just land
use is one to five and there haven't actually been
(04:19):
a significant There have been plantings, don't get me wrong
on that country, and that's great, but we actually need
to see that restricted restriction to all land use classes.
So that's number one. Number two is emissions is always
obviously a hot topic to the meet and will Council.
So yeah, we've we've put a land line in the
sand as a national council and said no to agricultural emissions,
(04:43):
pricing or the development of a pricing framework. We're not
even going to go there. Number Number third, Number three
concerned for the councilors will So obviously we have the
proposals to put wall in government buildings, which we've seen
success around Number four, need and pests. You know, this
problem needs to be addressed, the running rampant across the
(05:04):
country from angulates to wilding pines. And finally we'd like
to see increased crown pastor releases and grazing on public
conservation land. And look, you know they're all multifaceted issues.
You increase the grazing of those areas, you control weeds,
you control pests, the native bush has a chance to thrive,
(05:25):
and we've got more seaquestration as a country. So look,
five very relevant, five very good priorities are created by
that council of people around the country.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Absolutely absolutely, thank you very much there too. Richard Dawkins
Feeds meeting, will chair
Well, we head to Marlborough and feeds meet and wheel
chair and of course are yeah, some challenging times down
in that part of the world, particularly over the Hill
from the Marlboro region. Richard Dawkins joins, now.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Get I Richard, Yeah, house things famish, Yeah, not too bad.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
But we're here in Auckland. I've been down in the
Mantle or two bit lately where the weather has been
pretty good. But I tell you what, over the sort
of matchiache away some pretty concerning signs. I mean, she's
pretty wet now, but worse might be to come.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yeah, it could well be on its way. And look
here in Marlborough. I don't want to understate those who
are affected there. There has been a bit of damage
up the wire Ol Valley and other roading issues around
the region. But like you say, over the Hill and
the Motte Valley are our thoughts are really with those people.
And yeah, Federated Farmers have certainly been active, keeping in
touch with people and just offering what assistance we can.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Is there anyway, is there an eight hundred number for
people who might want to help out further or those
who need help. What's the sort of what's this what's
the system there.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, so look, there's areas avenues people can take if
they do want to lend a hand or so you've
obviously got real support trust civil defense, rural women always
do a great job of connecting people. But look, oh
eight hundred farming is the FEDS contact any questions or queries,
just called that number.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Oh eight hundred farming. There you go, and I'll make
sure I repeat that as well. Look, look, without getting
too grave on it, but there are one or two
shocking stories, aren't there, you know, and people who just
who just do not need any more of the wet stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah. Yeah, And look, we're keeping a close eye on
what's going on, particularly with key members in the community.
And also actually we you know, fed's has actually reached
out to every member over there's a check in just
to see what report is required. And yeah, we're hearing
about you know, twenty twenty people have sort of had
major impacts and the situation's pretty dire to be honest.
(01:56):
So yeah, we're connecting people where we can.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yeah, okay, so it's good to know that the hard
yards are going in to help out those people who
are affected. What are you hearing sort of around the country.
Are there any other pockets that have been adversely affected?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Oh, look at it certainly. Wet is definitely the theme
around the country. Just jetting to the Meat and Will Council.
As people are probably aware, we've got twenty four members
in twenty four regions. But yeah, look the focus is
certainly on the top of the South just at the moment.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Now, just on the Save our Sheep campaign. Is this
something that's still happening.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely so. Yes, Toby did a fantastic job
of launching the Save our Sheep campaign and look, it
was highly it is highly successful. It gained a lot
of traction and yeah, just a timing thing with our
AGM and getting the council around the table and just
working out, hey, what are the current issues and what
are the future issues going to be for the sheep
(03:01):
and b sector. So, like I said, all twenty four
council members had input there and we've come up with
our list of priorities, our list of actions. So if
I could list those off for your Hamish, that would
be great.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Are ye far away? Tell us what's next? Love to know?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, yeah, So top of the list on the Council's
mind was, Yeah, obviously this land use change into carbon farming,
which is what Save our Sheep was launched based on
that issue, and this is an example of the work
that goes on behind the scenes. The social media is
(03:37):
excellent for getting the word out there, but we've got
this powerhouse of fifty staff at Feeds and we've been
battling away. So on Tuesday I'm actually speaking to the
Select Committee. We're just rarely concerned that the way the
Climate Change Amendment Bill is constructed is it's not actually
going to be very effective at stopping that land use change.
(03:58):
So yeah, we'll we speak to that. We're looking for
the carbon credit restriction so companies will only be able
to receive carbon credits on twenty five percent of the plantings.
We're looking for that to actually apply to all land
use classes. Currently, as the bill sits, it's just land
use is one to five and there haven't actually been
(04:19):
a significant There have been plantings, don't get me wrong
on that country, and that's great, but we actually need
to see that restricted restriction to all land use classes.
So that's number one. Number two is emissions is always
obviously a hot topic to the meet and will Council.
So yeah, we've we've put a land line in the
sand as a national council and said no to agricultural emissions,
(04:43):
pricing or the development of a pricing framework. We're not
even going to go there. Number Number third, Number three
concerned for the councilors will So obviously we have the
proposals to put wall in government buildings, which we've seen
success around Number four, need and pests. You know, this
problem needs to be addressed, the running rampant across the
(05:04):
country from angulates to wilding pines. And finally we'd like
to see increased crown pastor releases and grazing on public
conservation land. And look, you know they're all multifaceted issues.
You increase the grazing of those areas, you control weeds,
you control pests, the native bush has a chance to thrive,
(05:25):
and we've got more seaquestration as a country. So look,
five very relevant, five very good priorities are created by
that council of people around the country.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Absolutely absolutely, thank you very much there too. Richard Dawkins
Feeds meeting, will chair
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