Michelle Sands: Horticulture New Zealand Strategy Manager on vegetable production concerns under the re

Horticulture New Zealand is pushing the government to follow through with its veggie production commitments.  

A new Institute of Economic Research report reveals prices could skyrocket under proposed regulations to reduce nitrogen runoff, with broccoli potentially jumping to $9 a head.  

Horticulture New Zealand Strategy Manager Michelle Sands told Mike Hosking that at the moment fresh fruit and vegetable growing and supply isn't recognised as a matter of national importance for New Zealanders. 

She says the current rules would prevent growers from rotating their crops, which would negatively impact soil health and could seriously threaten vegetable production.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We had a warning from the Howt folks the smalling
vegetable price is going to skyrocket if the government doesn't
straighten out the fresh water policy plans. Comes out of
a report by the end z I they reckon broccoli
could hit nine bucks ahead hot in. New Zealand's general
Manager of Strategy and Policy, Michelle Sands, is with us. Michelle,
good morning, Good morning. This is all to do with
nitrogen runoff and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah, it's about the fresh fruit water rules. And at
the moment there isn't any recognition that vegetable growing and
enabling the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for New
Zealand as a matter of national importance. So when counsels
make their rules at the moment, they haven't been paying
enough attention to the impact of those rules on the
supply of vegetables. And so we have rules that are

(00:41):
related to water quality that mean that vegetable production could
be seriously threatened in the Wakatu and horizons.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
But the same rules as applicable to farming and all
the yankst in places like Southland that the farmers are
worried about. You're worried about from the vegetable department.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
It is a bit different forgetables. It's really important that
they rotate, and what we have is rules that are
preventing growers from rotating, and so growers need to rotate
for soil health. And at the moment, rules classify rotation
as new activities and prevent that from happening, and so what.
So it is a little bit different to what's being

(01:20):
what the farmers are experiencing. Growers are absolutely committed to
undertaking good management practices. Of course they want is a
permitted activity which allows them to grow the vegetables that
we need, provided they are implementing.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
Here's what I've never understood, Michelle. First of all, we
need vegetables, and I would have thought that that was,
you know, just just a given. But farmers like you
know where your cows or lettuces. No one sets out
to ruin your property, which ruins your business, which ruins
your livelihood, do they It's.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
An unintended consequence. But the RMA has become extremely complicated.
We've been in regional planning processes that have lasted for
ten years and the end of it, no one can
make hea or tail of the rules. So what we
need is the government to come and to make it
very clear in the Resource Management at Bill that they're
putting before the House by the end of this year,

(02:12):
that vegetable production, that enabling the supply of vegetables as
a matter of national importance to New Zealanders and they
need to deliver on the promise that national made at
the election to make vegetable production and promoted activity.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
I shall follow it up with the Prime and stro
on Tuesday and see we're at with that. Appreciate your time,
Michelle Sandshort New Zealand ten years. Eh, Why wouldn't you
want to sit around for ten years and then end
up with something you don't understand?

Speaker 2 (02:35):
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