December 1, 2025 • 9 mins
Json Herrick says proposed changes to local councils need to be done once and done right.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Take Jason Herrick as president of South and Fed Rat
of Farmers and we catch up once again. Good afternoon, Jace,
we haven't spoken for a while. Hell's things.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, good afternoon and a yeah living the dream, you
know that's this good old Southern weather's starting to deliver
some good results at the end of spring, beginning of summer.
But no, I've been galivanting around the country, to be honest,
and having a chat with a lot of people, so
I don't really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I'll pull you up on that weather talk straight away.
People have fires that last what for Pete's sake?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Really? Yeah, oh well, I can't say I've had my
fire on, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
We've picked up our fire and we're already for center.
I'll just put that out there.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Hey, look, we've headed in the past too, right where
we've litten the fires in the first week of December before,
and don't forget some of our largest snow dumps we've
had has been in that November period as well. The
weather is the weather, and you just take it one
day at a time and deal with it as it comes.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
From a Federative farmer's perspective, over the past three or
four weeks. Jase has been quite a bit going on.
We'll acknowledge the weather events of coming up six weeks ago,
and trees still down a lot of places. You see
it every week, especially when I went through to Nudge
whatdheads at South Totago last week. It's unbelievable the scenes
that were seeing. What's the story from what you're hearing?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, same deal. So I've been on a few farms
and talked to quite a few farmers and you know,
there's still a lot of trees down there and still
have a lot of issues, and people still don't know
where to start. But it's going to take a lot
of a long time to clean a lot of it up,
because you know, we're at that time of year where
landing is coming to an end for a lot of
the high country, tailing still happening in other areas, and
(01:52):
you've got making going on for dairy farmers, and obviously
the arable boys are in full swing getting all the
spraying and stuff done. Cleaning up trees his secondary job
at this point in time.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
So people have menaged in the gate the last month. Okay,
all things considered, would you say.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Oh, absolutely, like Southend resilience is pretty pretty high man like, seriously,
Southern people they all get around one another and look
after one another, and to be honest that the confidence
is still pretty high out there.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, you look at solid temperatures and like everything's above
twelve degrees as you'd expect for the first week of December.
But it's certainly been another tailing spring.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Oh definitely. Like the difference between the spring and last
is last spring it was wet right across Southland, where
it's been quite sporadic this year in certain areas. So
northern south has been pretty good wet wise, whereas the
lower coast has been hit again, you know, with a
lot of wetness, so you know, at least it's spread
about and everyone has different different issues with the weather,
(02:52):
whereas last year it was right across the board and
you know the whole community was affected. So you know
that's the difference between one year to the next, and
again it'll be different again next year.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Now council changes the way that we do were local
democracy down here. You're all for this occurring. The Government's
made noises about this happening over the next couple of years.
Are you entirely happy of what they've proposed.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Not fully happy with what they're proposing. Definitely like the talk,
and to be honest, we've been leading it down here
in South and as well. Rob Scott quit a proposal
on the table and you know it's not one hundred
percent you know, what we would like, but it's definitely
in the same realms and around the amalgamation of councils
and having two unitaries, one for the city, one for
(03:35):
the role. But I definitely didn't like what the government
announced of getting rid of our councilors around the regional
council table in the next eighteen months and replacing them
with the mayors. Not for that, because while we've still
got regional council operating, we need to make sure we've
got good representation around that table. And to be honest,
you know, not all the mayors are royally focused either,
so you know, it wasn't happy with that announcement, and
(03:58):
I honestly think that the government jumped the gun on
that and they released it at the wrong time. They
probably should have put the changes out in the RMA first,
what they're proposing there before they went down this road,
so people had a little bit more clarity on what's
being proposed, and at the moment everyone's sitting in Limba
not knowing whose job is going to be what.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
But remembering Jace, you've been advocate for change as far
as the local councils, is it a case would be
careful what you wish for?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
No, No, definitely not. So. We do need change because
we can't carry on in the same path right because
the system is broken, extremely broken, and if we carry
it on the same trajectory, who will be able to
afford to pay rates by twenty thirty five, you know,
So things definitely need to change and if nothing changes,
nothing changes. So definitely for the change of the councils,
(04:44):
but it needs to be done right, and I think
we've got the opportunity in Southland here to lead from
the front, you know, and make sure we do it right.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Rates phrasers, well, this is all well and good in theory,
but they'll just be add ons anywhere and even we
are else unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, exactly so, I mean you could almost use that
phrase by keeper what you wish for there? But all
for rates definitely decreasing because to be honest, it's a
lot of the rate increases for unnecessary spending. And when
you see all these little like to have projects that
councils put out there, instead of concentrating on the core
(05:22):
core business and around infrastructure and doing what they're what
they're set up to do, they tend to spend money
on stupid stuff. So definitely it'll it'll put a big
spotlight on on those unnecessary expenditures because then the councils
are going to have to really rain down in their
spending and really and decide what's important.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Because James Meger on the show yesterday talking about changes
to the ARI may will become a to fruition and
then we'll see things start to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
But are you convinced, not fully convinced, like I mean yet,
we need definitely a new RM and we do need
changes in there, and we'll just wait to see where
that lands and then we can push back on what's
not good enough from there and then we'll go we'll
go through the consultation period, like there is a process
to go through and it's going to take some time
to land, and they reckon to implement the whole ARMA.
(06:12):
It could take two to three years.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Now as far as the Watonal Lagoon. What's the latest there.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So the decision landed on the Watuna where a consent
was granted, and to be honest, the farmers' voices were
not listening to whatsoever. Nothing come out in that. So
all fifty three conditions that landed in that consent, which
is owned by es DOC and EWE pretty much unworkable
and you'd get to the point where the lagoon will
(06:39):
never be opened because they wouldn't be able to meet
all conditions to open. So we have put an appeal
in and appealed the full consent, all fifty three conditions,
and we'll work forward with the three parties, hopefully go
into mediation first, but if we end up having to
go to court, then that's where we have to go.
We've got to get a good outcome for the locals
(07:00):
in the wide turn of lagoon, because as it currently stands,
they haven't got any outcome whatsoever.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
But realistically, how likely are you to get a positive
outcome out of something like that if you do happen
to go to court?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
A lot that the dialogue within the council at the
moment is pretty good with us and they agreeing with
our concerns, so they're very, very keen to sit down
at the table and talk about things and go to mediation.
So we'll start that process first and then we'll move
forward from there and we won't be doing anything until
(07:33):
after the second of February is the date I've been given,
and then we'll head into next year and go through
mediation and as it currently stands, while while it's all happening,
we just carry on as we are where environments south
and we'll have the right to open the lagoon under
emergency powers of need.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
But dialogue, it's almost like the word of the year
for Federative Farmers Jason. Now we talk about this with
other organizations, but then we look at the situation with
South of Fish and Game. We gave twelve months and
it was not a very it was it a good situation.
It all this be fair regarding access to riverways and
the likes, But this year is a totally different situation.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah. So obviously there's been some huge snarounds and huge
games there where fishing game is concerned, and a lot
of personnel changes. So communication has been pretty good from
fishing Game and fairly positive and sort of working in
the right direction, and we have got a meeting coming
up with them soon, just they haven't quite determined a
(08:31):
time and date for that yet, but we want to
talk about duck numbers coming into next year and how
we can get farmers issued permits for duck control, especially
through that crop establishment phase, and making sure that they
have the ability to cut off some ducks if need be.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
So, a lot of bridges have been mended.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
To coin a phrase, i'd say bridges have been put together. Okay,
I won't say they've been fully mended, but definitely we've
had a few bandates put on in like I said,
conversations and it's a work in progress, but we'll get there.
I'm positive of that because dialok is actually open now
(09:11):
and the discussions are going both ways. And we'll never
agree to We'll agree to disagree all the way through.
There's no toys about that. We won't agree on everything,
but at least we're talking and they are listening to
us as well.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
So the runners are on the bridge as sleepers are
on their way, and that means it's time for us
to go. Jason Herrick out of South and Federated Farmers
always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
You're welcome. Have a good alfnoon, Eddy.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Jason Herick of Southland Federated Farmers. This is the muster.
Next we're heading to catch up with Nigel Woodhead at
Levels Flat, halfway between Balclusa and Melton,
Take Jason Herrick as president of South and Fed Rat
of Farmers and we catch up once again. Good afternoon, Jace,
we haven't spoken for a while. Hell's things.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, good afternoon and a yeah living the dream, you
know that's this good old Southern weather's starting to deliver
some good results at the end of spring, beginning of summer.
But no, I've been galivanting around the country, to be honest,
and having a chat with a lot of people, so
I don't really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I'll pull you up on that weather talk straight away.
People have fires that last what for Pete's sake?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Really? Yeah, oh well, I can't say I've had my
fire on, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
We've picked up our fire and we're already for center.
I'll just put that out there.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Hey, look, we've headed in the past too, right where
we've litten the fires in the first week of December before,
and don't forget some of our largest snow dumps we've
had has been in that November period as well. The
weather is the weather, and you just take it one
day at a time and deal with it as it comes.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
From a Federative farmer's perspective, over the past three or
four weeks. Jase has been quite a bit going on.
We'll acknowledge the weather events of coming up six weeks ago,
and trees still down a lot of places. You see
it every week, especially when I went through to Nudge
whatdheads at South Totago last week. It's unbelievable the scenes
that were seeing. What's the story from what you're hearing?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, same deal. So I've been on a few farms
and talked to quite a few farmers and you know,
there's still a lot of trees down there and still
have a lot of issues, and people still don't know
where to start. But it's going to take a lot
of a long time to clean a lot of it up,
because you know, we're at that time of year where
landing is coming to an end for a lot of
the high country, tailing still happening in other areas, and
(01:52):
you've got making going on for dairy farmers, and obviously
the arable boys are in full swing getting all the
spraying and stuff done. Cleaning up trees his secondary job
at this point in time.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
So people have menaged in the gate the last month. Okay,
all things considered, would you say.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Oh, absolutely, like Southend resilience is pretty pretty high man like, seriously,
Southern people they all get around one another and look
after one another, and to be honest that the confidence
is still pretty high out there.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, you look at solid temperatures and like everything's above
twelve degrees as you'd expect for the first week of December.
But it's certainly been another tailing spring.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Oh definitely. Like the difference between the spring and last
is last spring it was wet right across Southland, where
it's been quite sporadic this year in certain areas. So
northern south has been pretty good wet wise, whereas the
lower coast has been hit again, you know, with a
lot of wetness, so you know, at least it's spread
about and everyone has different different issues with the weather,
(02:52):
whereas last year it was right across the board and
you know the whole community was affected. So you know
that's the difference between one year to the next, and
again it'll be different again next year.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Now council changes the way that we do were local
democracy down here. You're all for this occurring. The Government's
made noises about this happening over the next couple of years.
Are you entirely happy of what they've proposed.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Not fully happy with what they're proposing. Definitely like the talk,
and to be honest, we've been leading it down here
in South and as well. Rob Scott quit a proposal
on the table and you know it's not one hundred
percent you know, what we would like, but it's definitely
in the same realms and around the amalgamation of councils
and having two unitaries, one for the city, one for
(03:35):
the role. But I definitely didn't like what the government
announced of getting rid of our councilors around the regional
council table in the next eighteen months and replacing them
with the mayors. Not for that, because while we've still
got regional council operating, we need to make sure we've
got good representation around that table. And to be honest,
you know, not all the mayors are royally focused either,
so you know, it wasn't happy with that announcement, and
(03:58):
I honestly think that the government jumped the gun on
that and they released it at the wrong time. They
probably should have put the changes out in the RMA first,
what they're proposing there before they went down this road,
so people had a little bit more clarity on what's
being proposed, and at the moment everyone's sitting in Limba
not knowing whose job is going to be what.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
But remembering Jace, you've been advocate for change as far
as the local councils, is it a case would be
careful what you wish for?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
No, No, definitely not. So. We do need change because
we can't carry on in the same path right because
the system is broken, extremely broken, and if we carry
it on the same trajectory, who will be able to
afford to pay rates by twenty thirty five, you know,
So things definitely need to change and if nothing changes,
nothing changes. So definitely for the change of the councils,
(04:44):
but it needs to be done right, and I think
we've got the opportunity in Southland here to lead from
the front, you know, and make sure we do it right.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Rates phrasers, well, this is all well and good in theory,
but they'll just be add ons anywhere and even we
are else unfortunately.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, exactly so, I mean you could almost use that
phrase by keeper what you wish for there? But all
for rates definitely decreasing because to be honest, it's a
lot of the rate increases for unnecessary spending. And when
you see all these little like to have projects that
councils put out there, instead of concentrating on the core
(05:22):
core business and around infrastructure and doing what they're what
they're set up to do, they tend to spend money
on stupid stuff. So definitely it'll it'll put a big
spotlight on on those unnecessary expenditures because then the councils
are going to have to really rain down in their
spending and really and decide what's important.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Because James Meger on the show yesterday talking about changes
to the ARI may will become a to fruition and
then we'll see things start to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
But are you convinced, not fully convinced, like I mean yet,
we need definitely a new RM and we do need
changes in there, and we'll just wait to see where
that lands and then we can push back on what's
not good enough from there and then we'll go we'll
go through the consultation period, like there is a process
to go through and it's going to take some time
to land, and they reckon to implement the whole ARMA.
(06:12):
It could take two to three years.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Now as far as the Watonal Lagoon. What's the latest there.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So the decision landed on the Watuna where a consent
was granted, and to be honest, the farmers' voices were
not listening to whatsoever. Nothing come out in that. So
all fifty three conditions that landed in that consent, which
is owned by es DOC and EWE pretty much unworkable
and you'd get to the point where the lagoon will
(06:39):
never be opened because they wouldn't be able to meet
all conditions to open. So we have put an appeal
in and appealed the full consent, all fifty three conditions,
and we'll work forward with the three parties, hopefully go
into mediation first, but if we end up having to
go to court, then that's where we have to go.
We've got to get a good outcome for the locals
(07:00):
in the wide turn of lagoon, because as it currently stands,
they haven't got any outcome whatsoever.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
But realistically, how likely are you to get a positive
outcome out of something like that if you do happen
to go to court?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
A lot that the dialogue within the council at the
moment is pretty good with us and they agreeing with
our concerns, so they're very, very keen to sit down
at the table and talk about things and go to mediation.
So we'll start that process first and then we'll move
forward from there and we won't be doing anything until
(07:33):
after the second of February is the date I've been given,
and then we'll head into next year and go through
mediation and as it currently stands, while while it's all happening,
we just carry on as we are where environments south
and we'll have the right to open the lagoon under
emergency powers of need.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
But dialogue, it's almost like the word of the year
for Federative Farmers Jason. Now we talk about this with
other organizations, but then we look at the situation with
South of Fish and Game. We gave twelve months and
it was not a very it was it a good situation.
It all this be fair regarding access to riverways and
the likes, But this year is a totally different situation.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah. So obviously there's been some huge snarounds and huge
games there where fishing game is concerned, and a lot
of personnel changes. So communication has been pretty good from
fishing Game and fairly positive and sort of working in
the right direction, and we have got a meeting coming
up with them soon, just they haven't quite determined a
(08:31):
time and date for that yet, but we want to
talk about duck numbers coming into next year and how
we can get farmers issued permits for duck control, especially
through that crop establishment phase, and making sure that they
have the ability to cut off some ducks if need be.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
So, a lot of bridges have been mended.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
To coin a phrase, i'd say bridges have been put together. Okay,
I won't say they've been fully mended, but definitely we've
had a few bandates put on in like I said,
conversations and it's a work in progress, but we'll get there.
I'm positive of that because dialok is actually open now
(09:11):
and the discussions are going both ways. And we'll never
agree to We'll agree to disagree all the way through.
There's no toys about that. We won't agree on everything,
but at least we're talking and they are listening to
us as well.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
So the runners are on the bridge as sleepers are
on their way, and that means it's time for us
to go. Jason Herrick out of South and Federated Farmers
always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
You're welcome. Have a good alfnoon, Eddy.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Jason Herick of Southland Federated Farmers. This is the muster.
Next we're heading to catch up with Nigel Woodhead at
Levels Flat, halfway between Balclusa and Melton,
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