Colin Amble/cvnznews.com
ACT has launched its rural election campaign promising less red tape, fewer regulations and more freedom for farmers, arguing that years of government intervention have made farming harder than it needs to be. But while many in the sector welcome moves to cut bureaucracy, questions remain over climate policy and New Zealand’s international commitments.
The ACT Party has officially launched its rural election campaign with a bold promise to “make farming fun again”, unveiling a suite of policies aimed at reducing regulation and putting more decision-making back into the hands of farmers.
ACT Agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard, himself a former Federated Farmers president, said the party’s goal was simple: keep Wellington out of the farm gate.
“We can’t control the weather or foreign commodity prices, but we can stop the government from causing headaches through pointless rules and red tape,” Hoggard said.
The party says successive governments have layered regulations onto rural New Zealand, creating frustration among farmers already grappling with rising costs, labour shortages, weather challenges and fluctuating international markets.
Among ACT’s promises are the removal of Te Mana o te Wai provisions from resource consenting processes, ending Net Zero targets, allowing targeted grazing on suitable Department of Conservation land, increasing rural police patrols, and creating a Rural Workforce Visa to help fill labour shortages.
ACT is also signalling it may reconsider New Zealand’s participation in the Paris Climate Agreement if it cannot secure what it describes as a fair international deal.
That position places ACT closer to New Zealand First, which has already committed to withdrawing from the agreement, while National has made continued participation a bottom-line issue in future coalition negotiations.
A Message Likely to Resonate
For many farmers, ACT’s message is likely to strike a chord.
Over recent years, farming groups have repeatedly complained about increasing compliance costs, environmental regulations, freshwater rules and greenhouse gas policies. The scrapping of He Waka Eke Noa and replacement of the Resource Management Act by the current government have been welcomed by many in the primary sector, but concerns remain about what future planning rules will look like.
While Federated Farmers has not endorsed any political party, its leaders have frequently argued that farmers need practical, workable regulation rather than what they describe as excessive bureaucracy.
The broader question for voters will be whether ACT’s promise of greater freedom can be balanced against environmental protections and New Zealand’s international climate commitments.
With farming remaining the backbone of New Zealand’s export economy, political parties know the rural vote could once again play a pivotal role in deciding who governs after November’s election.
For ACT, the campaign message is clear: less paperwork, fewer restrictions and, in their words, making farming enjoyable again.
