Federated Farmers launches election priorities

Federated Farmers has launched a five-point plan for the next government, setting out what it says should be a major focus for political parties heading into the November election.

President Wayne Langford says the organisation’s election platform, Backing Kiwi Farmers, is a practical blueprint for whichever parties form the next government.

“This isn’t just another wish list or a collection of vague ideas. It’s a clear roadmap built by farmers to double farm productivity, cut costs, and improve environmental outcomes,

“We’ve launched it this week to coincide with National Fieldays, the sector’s biggest event of the year, when all eyes are on agriculture and farmers’ contribution to the country.

“These priorities are all about making sure farmers have the right rules and government backing to improve profitability and grow the economy.”

The five-point plan focuses on:

1. cutting the cost of farming

2. enabling technology and infrastructure

3. empowering community conservation

4. supporting young farmers

5. fixing local government.

Langford says each of those high-level themes has very specific and practical requests for whoever forms the next government.

“We’ve made our asks extremely clear, so politicians have absolutely no doubt what farmers are actually looking for this election,” he says.

“For example, we’ve asked for resource consents to be replaced by farm plans, an end to permanent carbon forestry, and for no new taxes to be introduced for farmers.

“We’ve also laid out practical steps to cut the cost of farming, accelerate solar uptake on farms, and double the funding for QEII Trust.

“With local government reform currently underway, we’ve spelled out exactly what we think should happen, including a separation of provincial areas from major cities, and removing councils’ ability to commit to joint decision-making with unelected groups.

“There’s a real breadth to this election platform and the issues we’re wanting to discuss, but no room for confusion about what we’re asking for.”

Langford says Federated Farmers had huge success with its list of election priorities in 2023, which were geared towards restoring rural confidence.

“We put forward 12 priorities for the incoming government and we’re pleased to have got all 12 of those across the line over the past three years.

“As a result, while costs are still high and some regulations are still a niggle, rural communities are feeling a lot more positive about the future.

“That’s why we’ve shifted focus, launching 2026 election priorities designed to continue that momentum and unlock the full potential of rural New Zealand.”

Langford says a stronger farming sector will benefit the entire country, not just rural communities.

“Farming contributes tens of billions of dollars to our economy, supports regional towns and businesses, and feeds millions of people here in New Zealand and around the world.

“When farming does well, provincial New Zealand does well, local businesses do well, export earnings increase, and jobs are created.”

Federated Farmers wants political parties to engage with its proposals over the coming months.

“This election platform is ultimately about backing the people who produce the food, fibre and products that keep this country moving,” Langford says.

“Farmers are problem-solvers by nature. Give us the tools, get out of the way, and we will deliver a stronger, more productive New Zealand for future generations.”

• Create 10 new permitted activity standards for farming
• Guarantee flexible land use in every region
• Stop incentivising whole-farm conversions to permanent carbon forestry
• Use farm plans to replace resource consents
• Introduce no new taxes for farmers.

• Use 100% of International Visitor Levy funding for conservation and tourism projects
• Allocate a 10-year funding stream to control wilding pines
• Permanently double funding for the QEII National Trust
• Restore grazing to 500,000ha of Department of Conservation land
• Ensure coordinated pest control across public and private land.

• Streamline access to new technologies
• Rebalance EPA resources toward new approvals and product innovation
• Provide seed funding for new water storage projects
• Establish national standards for on-farm water storage
• Establish national standards for small-and medium-scale solar.

• Support practical and industry-led vocational training
• Build practical industry experience, work-based learning and apprenticeship pathways into vocational education
• Empower rural schools to teach agriculture
• Review the Sharemilking Agreements Act
• Include agricultural and horticultural science within the year 0-10 science curriculum.

• Establish a single layer of local government
• Separate provincial areas from major cities
• Remove the need for cultural impact assessments
• Ensure fair compensation for overlays, like outstanding natural landscapes and significant natural areas
• Remove the ability for councils to commit to joint decision-making with unelected groups.