Meeting 2nd December at 7pm - details below

Another Dam Meeting!

A public meeting is being held in Waipawa early next week with the aim of getting some open discussion around the economics of the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme.

The meeting will be hosted by Transparent Hawke’s Bay. The group’s chair, Pauline Elliott, says the recent meeting in Waipawa, hosted by Irrigation NZ (INZ) and Federated Farmers, talked about the benefits of South Island schemes. “The meeting next week is about getting to understand the facts around our own Hawke’s Bay proposed scheme and what it means for our farmers, growers and communities, economically and financially” she says.

“We are getting a great deal of conflicting information and we think it would be of value to have an open and frank discussion around these matters.

One of the meeting’s invited guests is Peter Fraser, who was ‘politely declined’ the opportunity to speak at the earlier meeting in Waipawa, but Ms Elliott says he is worthy of a hearing. “Peter is an economist whose experience includes agricultural economics, particularly in the dairy industry; labour productivity; and as senior advisor and analyst in agriculture to Treasury and MAF. He has independently undertaken an analysis of the RWSS and has no vested interest.”

Another guest speaker is Barrie Ridler, farmer and well qualified Farm Advisor. Barrie spent 12 years with Massey University as senior lecturer in Agricultural Economics and Farm Systems Management. He has extensive international experience in these areas, and has authored or co-authored more than 30 research papers on the subjects.

Ms Elliott says the focus of the meeting in Waipawa is to provide a forum to explore, question, and discuss. “It is intended to be non-partisan, non- divisive, and a good opportunity to put up any questions that still need answers”

The meeting will be held next Tuesday, 2nd December at 7pm, in the CHB Municipal Theatre, Kenilworth Street, Waipawa.

ENDS

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