September 27, 2022
Productive land saved for food good for Māori growers
The chair of Nelson’s Wakatu Incorporation says new rules for the most productive soils should help Māori asset managers.
The national policy statement will require councils to identify, map, and manage highly productive land.
Paul Morgan says some land already earmarked for urban development can be excluded.
That’s unfortunate given the need for cities to ensure their future population can be fed.
“Local food is best for local populations. The transport costs, the carbon coats, access to labour, all of those things create foods that are cheaper than going on poor quality soils distant from markets, and we all know what’s going on in terms of price inflation,” he says.
Mr Morgan says almost half of the highly-productive soils in the Auckland area have already been covered over with buildings.