November 23, 2022
Māori farmers can spread emissions costs
Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri says the Government has taken Māori land ownership structures into account with its proposal to charge farmers for agricultural emissions.
Most of the plan had come out of a partnership with farming groups, He Waka Eke Noa, with disputed areas on sequestration and price setting put out for public consultation.
Submissions closed on Friday and the Government expects to announce the final plan before the end of the year.
Ms Whaitiri says Māori own about 40 percent of the beef and lamb sector, mostly though collective ownership structures.
“That is another form of protection for our Māori farmers is that once we set on the pricing, you can leverage off your multiple businesses across your land to help meet your emission costs and I think this a ground breaking initiative to recognise the collective way we own our assets and I think that is a positive thing,” she says.
Meka Whaitiri says allegations in a petition by the Groundswell organisation that farmers weren’t consulted don’t stack up.