New laws to stop carbon forest on productive farms ‘long overdue': Fed Farmers
'This legislation is a really positive step forward, but from a farmer's perspective, it's long overdue,' Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams
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Hush and rush of Govt lawmaking undermines trust and quality
Analysis: Less than two months before the Government announced its shock pay equity reforms, Brooke van Velden's officials provided her with a briefing where they advised her to keep all details of the $13 billion decision secret until after the legislation had passed into law. 'We recommend that any announcements or statements about the proposed amendments must be made after the introduction of the Bill,' officials say in the March briefing documents.
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Letters: Despite Donald Trump's tariffs, we continue to produce world-class meat, dairy and wine
So, in summary and even factoring in US state sales taxes, in totality, New Zealand is only marginally disadvantaged. Further mitigating factors both in favour of the American consumer and the New Zealand exporter is the ongoing strength of the US dollar and Donald Trump's recent big, beautiful tax bill, which will pass significant tax relief and buying power into the hands of millions of American consumers. Also front of mind should be that other countries and direct New Zealand competitors are facing similar, if not greater, tariff increases than New Zealand. Given we continue to produce world-class meat, dairy and wine products, it's unlikely, after a period of adjustment, that price increases at the retail level will have any meaningful impact on American consumers. Bruce Eliott, St Heliers. Voting changes People are criticising the Government for closing voting enrolments two weeks before the election. If you don't want to vote, that is fine. However, if you do, but can't be bothered to put in a small amount of effort to enrol over two weeks before an election, the problem isn't the system, it's you. If you want to vote, make an effort. Mark Young, Ōrewa. Electoral requirements If it is a legal requirement to be enrolled on the electoral roll, as stated by the Government on national television Q&A programme yesterday, why are all those on a benefit or Superannuation or in public services jobs not being checked by either employers or Winz? Who is responsible for checking that all New Zealanders are enrolled and are therefore not in breach of the law? Or does this Government not care about the 'dropkicks' or those who have been removed from the Māori roll? What happens to those who turn 18 on or near polling day? If the enrolment time is shortened, how will NZ Post guarantee that all New Zealanders are enrolled in time, and also the many thousands of Kiwi who have moved to Australia this past year who are still New Zealand citizens? Where is the democratic right for all New Zealanders? It behoves every Kiwi eligible to vote and all parliamentary parties to check the electoral roll in 2026 to make a concerted effort to gather those who are in breach of the law. Marie Kaire, Whangārei. Credit card fees So, the Government is banning credit card fees, whoop de do. Not all retailers charged extra anyway and the ones that did will recover them in some other covert way instead. A waste of Government time and energy all round. A.J. Petersen, Kawerau. Lions v Australia In a dead rubber, Australia won one test against the British and Irish Lions which, in spite of rugby's prevailing conflicting laws, held a passing interest. The game again was an eight-man-a-side wrestling contest with hardly any flowing seven-man backline plays. The tries scored were due only to individual opportunism, rather than teamwork. Once again, rugby was ... the loser. Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay. Jami-Lee Ross' political return Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross has said he is aiming for a political comeback, and will run for a seat on the Howick local board in the Flat Bush subdivision. No doubt he has weighed up the pros and cons of this move, but given the way the final chapters of his previous time in politics played out in the media, I'd suggest it would probably be best to give it a miss. He would open himself up for scrutiny, old controversies will be brought up, and his new venture, running an escort agency, will no doubt be 'grist for the mill' for his opponents. The message in Kenny Rogers' song The Gambler says it best: 'You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run...' Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.
Scoop
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Public Water, Private Profits? Tauranga Vote On Waters Done Well Raises Alarm Bells Over Secrecy, Power, & Past Agendas
Tauranga, NZ - 3 August 2025 This Tuesday, Tauranga City Council will vote on whether to opt into the Government's new "Waters Done Well" water services reform framework, a deceptively simple decision with massive consequences for local democracy, public ownership, and the future cost of living for every Tauranga resident. While officials are pushing the proposal as a "streamlining" of services, watchdogs and local advocates say it's anything but. 'This isn't just pipes and pumps, this is about whether public control of water remains public at all,' said Erika Harvey, spokesperson for Lobby for Good. 'We've seen this play before, dress up centralisation as 'efficiency,' then open the door to corporate control behind closed doors.' A Legacy of Sell-Offs - Are We Repeating the Past? Todd McClay, Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, has denied any intent to privatise water. But scrutiny is growing over his links to one of New Zealand's most notorious sell-offs, the 1990s electricity sector privatisations overseen by his father, Roger McClay, under the National government. 'Let's not forget what happened when electricity was deregulated and handed to the market: prices soared, and public power was lost, literally and politically,' Harvey said. 'Now his son is overseeing a framework that removes water from councils, centralises decision-making, and could make it far easier to privatise later.' What's at Stake in Tuesday's Vote? Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council will vote on whether to opt in to the Government's new 'Waters Done Well' framework, a decision that will lock in the future of local water services for decades. This vote isn't just procedural. It decides whether our local drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure remains accountable to the communities who use and pay for it, or whether it's handed over to a new centralised entity with limited public oversight. Councils hand over key water assets to new centralised "service delivery organisations". Local accountability is diluted, with communities having little say over how water is managed Once transferred, these assets could be harder to return to public control Governance structures are vague, with key decisions potentially made by political appointees or private advisers Cr. Crowther's Warning: 'A Trojan Horse for Corporatisation' In a must-read Substack post this week, Councillor Glen Crowther called the proposal what it really is: "a Trojan Horse for corporatisation." He outlines how the new entities will operate more like commercial utilities than community services, despite still being technically owned by councils. Cr. Crowther also questions why the Government is rushing councils to opt-in without clear public consultation, funding guarantees, or transparent rules for asset control. His analysis echoes concerns already raised around the Marine Precinct, Durham Street, and other high-value local asset deals: the public is being shut out of decisions that will shape the city for generations. The Big Questions Tauranga Deserves Answers To As councillors prepare to cast their votes, Lobby for Good is demanding they publicly address: Why is this being rushed with so little public scrutiny? What protections will exist to stop privatisation by stealth in the future? Why are ratepayers being asked to give up control without guarantees on price, quality, or transparency? How will this governance structure avoid the same failings seen in past council-controlled organisations (CCOs)? And most importantly: who stands to profit, and who stands to lose? If this is the wrong decision, who is held accountable? 'This vote isn't just about water, it's about whether Tauranga is governed for the public good or private gain,' said Harvey. 'Once control is lost, it's near impossible to get back. We've learned that lesson the hard way. The question now is; will our council learn from it, or repeat it?' Call to Action Lobby for Good is urging Tauranga residents to contact their elected members, speak up before Tuesday's vote, and demand full transparency and public consultation before any irreversible decisions are made.
