RMA Hits Farming Family for Millions

25 June 2008

RMA Hits Farming Family for Millions

A Taupo farming family is facing potential financial ruin as a result of changes being made through the Resource Management Act.

The president of Federated Farmers, Charlie Pedersen says Robbie and Mary Dymock won a ballot farm near Lake Taupo in 1982. It was one the last Department of Lands and Survey ballot blocks and was a very basic unit that required a huge effort over many years on the part of the Dymocks to develop the land to its potential.

“But due to the regulation of the Resource Management Act their ability to make viable business decisions is restricted. This also has the affect of reducing the value of their property.”

A year or so ago, the Dymocks property had a rateable value of $3.185 million, but because of the limits it has now been estimated that their farm is worth only $1.2 million.

Mr Pedersen says this amounts to confiscation of the farm under the RMA and shows the harshness of how the Resource Management Act can be applied. He says the Dymocks and other farming families are being asked to pay a massive price for environmental outcomes the whole community wants He says the whole community should pay and the cost should not be wiped off just farmers’ incomes.

Mr Pedersen says other regional councils are planning similar moves and there is a real risk that food production in New Zealand will be cut at a time when the world is in desperate need of more food. He says such moves by regional councils will see investment taken out of agriculture at precisely the wrong time. He says regional councils need get a better handle on the economic impact of their decisions.

ENDS

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