Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So brighton breezy up early in Singapore. Is the Chief
Executive a Port Culture New Zealand, Kate Scott. Kate, We're
going to come back to what you're doing and Singapore
on behalf of the horticulture growers of the country. But
I want to ask you about this week's announcement around
RIMA reforms. Are we going to end up growing houses
where we should be growing vegetables.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Look, I think that's a good question, and as many
of your listeners are probably aware, there was an announcement
yesterday of the intention to make some changes to the
National Policy Statement of a Highly Productive Land which would
see the removal of past through land from that National
policy statement and make guess that's around enabling or from
the government's perspective, enabling greater development of habit From our
(00:45):
Water Culture and New Zealand perspective, one of the things
that we're concerned about is the fact that this is
also the land where our fresh fruit and vegetables are
growing in close proximity to our city. Then what does
that do or what are the challenges that that presents
if that land's no longer available for britten vegetable production.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Well, We've seen what's happened in Pokacoe. Surely the cities
in New Zealand need to grow up, not out. We've
got to protect areas such as Pokacoe, Horror Fanua another
area good market gardening area.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Look, those are both two of our key growing regions
for vegetables within New Zealand, and I think the biggest
challenge both the horror Fenua and Pocacola growers are facing
at the moment is the real lack of certainty around
being able to actually even get in sense to continue
to farm. And that's because of underlying rules in their
various regional plans. And when we've got changes to the
(01:39):
HBL that makes it easier to grow houses but harder
to grow vegetables, it makes you wonder how are we
going to navigate that?
Speaker 1 (01:46):
So what are you going to do on behalf of
Horticulture New Zealand to petition the government to reinstate some
common sense around this, Kate Scott.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Look, we've been working very hard on behalf of vegetable
growers in particular over the last twelve months to I
really talk to how important it is to enable vegetable production.
Now I think it's really clear that we need to
make sure that they can continue to deliver for our
food security needs in a New Zealand context, and in particular,
I think, from my point of view, we need to
(02:15):
make sure that they can do that in a way
that allows them to grow their fruit and vegetables as
a permitted activity. But we must make sure that they
can do that with a good farm practices in place
and with farm plans. And I think that's a pretty
simple request, and I think most people would understand how
important it is to be able to access for fruit
and vegetables.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Really annoys me, Kate. It's pine trees at one end,
and how's is it the other. We're continually pinching our
productive land. Don't start me on that one. Hey, what
are you doing in Singapore?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yeah? Look, I've been up in Singapore for the last
week as part of a land use Change in Food
Systems diversity trip, which has had roughly twenty five people
from across the primary set the spectrum in New Zealand,
from farmers to people in industry and business. Look, what's
been really fascinating from my point of view is actually
some of the contrasts we see between Singapore and New Zealand.
(03:06):
So for those who don't know, Singapore as a country
is about the size of Lake Taupo, has a population
similar to New Zealand of about six million people. And
yet their biggest challenge is how do they feed their people?
And so their government's doing a lot of work at
the moment. They have a plan and a purpose around
it's called their thirty by thirty plan, which is where
(03:26):
they've set some ambitious goals to securing thirty percent of
their food supply locally by twenty thirty. And I guess
what it's highlighted for me is, you know, we are
a large country in New Zealand, we have an abundance
of land. Singapore, on the other hand, are a very
small country who wish they had more land. So there's
been some interesting contrast. One of the most interesting things
(03:49):
I've probably seen has been how well supported the ecosystem
is in Singapore. To try and drive innovation across ag
tech sector is an interesting example of that has been
really insightful.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
A final comment from you, because we're in the heart
of the horticulture season, Kiwi fruit starting to come off,
the apples are being harvested. We're getting well through that one. Look,
things are looking pretty good return wise for those two
key areas anyhow, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
That's right. Look, both are talking to apple growers over
the last few months. Some of them are reporting their
best season ever watch, particularly for those growers who were
impacted by the cyclone. Is really good to see after
a couple of pretty average years. Kiwi fruit once again
continues to have a strong presence and lot pricing seems
to be reasonable at the moment, which you know bodes
(04:42):
well for the check.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
This onwards and upwards and let's grow food, not houses.
Kate Scott Safe travels home tonight from Singapore.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Thanks Jami.