National News> Media Releases

6 May 2009

NZ DAIRY STRATEGY: A NOD TO THE ENVIRONMENT

The Strategy for New Zealand Dairy Farming launched by the Prime Minister, John Key yesterday provides a nod in the direction of our freshwater environment, but provides little in the way of a commitment to action on the ground that will address the problem by a specified time.

"We should celebrate the fact that the dairy farming's adverse effects on the environment are now acknowledged as a significant problem that needs to be solved," said Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive New Zealand Fish & Game Council, "and that the primary responsibility for fixing it is now reorganised as lying with the industry itself."

Both John Key and Agriculture Minister David Carter had a strong message for the dairy industry last night that the Government expects the industry itself to manage a transition to environmentally sustainable farming, or have it done for them. We support David Carter's comments that, environmental sustainability is the industry's biggest challenge, especially in water use and water quality, and that, the dairy industry needs to accept ownership of its environmental performance.?

"This acknowledgement by the Government and the dairy industry is significant, and follows many years of denial in the face of growing evidence to the contrary."

"But, acknowledging a problem and accepting their responsibility to fix it, is a long way from actually committing to doing something about it by a designated date. While the Government's clear messages are a good start, until the dairy industry as a whole commits to environmentally sustainable best on-farm practice becoming mandatory for all suppliers, damage to our already degraded waterways will continue."

"Environmentally sustainable agriculture is the only long term future for New Zealand. In terms of our six - point checklist released on Monday, the Strategy scores a 2!"

ENDS

For more information:

Bryce Johnson
Chief Executive New Zealand Fish & Game Council
021 397 897

Fish & Game's six-point checklist released on 4 May is copied below:

4 May 2009

NZ DAIRY STRATEGY- ENVIRONMENT MUST BE A PRIORITY

Fish & Game New Zealand await with interest the launch of the Strategy for New Zealand Dairy Farming by the Prime minister, John Key on Tuesday.

The adverse environmental effects of intensive agriculture, and dairy framing in particular, are well understood and recognised by central and local government, the agricultural sector and the public of New Zealand.

"We are looking for the Strategy to unambiguously recognise the problem, address solutions and implement specific measurable performance milestone," said Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive if the New Zealand Fish & Game Council. "Specifically, we are looking for:

• Dairy industry acknowledgement that there is a proven 'dairying and the environment' problem to be solved.
• Dairy industry recognition that the primary responsibility for fixing this environmental problem lies with the industry itself  that the industry actually has a duty to do so.
• Dairy industry commitment to 'environmentally sustainable best on-farm practice' becoming a mandatory requirement upon all suppliers, by a specified date with milestone dates to assess progress. This would include riparian buffer zone protection and independently audited whole-of-farm nutrient management plans.
• The dairy industry leading implementation of consequences for suppliers who display persistent non-compliance with regional council resource consents.
• The dairy industry leading implementation of consequences for suppliers who do not demonstrate performance in the transition to environmentally sustainable dairy farming.
• A central leadership role for the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand by causing milk supplier contracts to include consistent environmental best practice conditions.

ENDS

Ric Cullinane
Communications and Marketing Manager
Fish & Game New Zealand
Phone: 04 499 4767
Mobile: 021 994768
Email: rcullinane@fishandgame.org.nz