Reasons to farm weka

Media Release
3 February 2010

Reasons to farm weka

Federated Farmers is backing entrepreneurial farmer, Roger Beattie, in his quest to secure trial approval to supply farmed weka.

“Here’s a true Kiwi entrepreneur who ought to have every policy encouragement to see if a new market can be created,” says Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers game spokesperson.

“Mr Beattie firmly believes that the weka can be domesticated and if that’s the case, it could well become our version of the turkey. After all, that’s a bird native to the Americas that is now commonly farmed around the world. The turkey was domesticated around 500BC.

“I think the reaction from TVNZ’s Close-Up on Monday evening shows New Zealanders are open-minded to new possibilities. 85 percent of respondents felt Mr Beattie should be given the room to try. We do, too.

“New Zealand is a unique country and it stands to reason that our fauna has the unique potential to be farmed as well. As Mr Beattie rightly points out, no farmed species has ever become extinct. Really, it’s the complete opposite when it comes to farming.

“I eagerly await the Government’s response since it’s saying 2010 will be the year for export led growth.

“It’s ironic that the Chatham Islands take a far more enlightened view to the consumption of weka and to the farming of trout. Crazily, despite having one of the world’s most easily farmed and popular fish to consume, mainland New Zealand treats an introduced species as being more of a native than our native eels.

“It’s time to unleash our entrepreneurs, represented by Mr Beattie. Domesticating some native species - aquatic or terrestrial - actually removes pressure off the wild populations.

“I see Roger Beattie as being in the same mould as the likes of Sir Peter Jackson and Weta’s Richard Taylor. Those two were told a big budget Hollywood film would never be filmed in New Zealand but have proved the naysayers wrong.

“Roger Beattie is told can’t but he replies can and without any subsidies too. Let’s face it, if the weka was instead a turkey, it would make us look like one for not trying,” Mr Aubrey concluded.

ENDS