Regional voting results tell a story

Media Release

10 September 2009

Regional voting results tell a story – Meat & Wool New Zealand

Further analysis of regional voting patterns in the recent Meat & Wool New Zealand Referendum has highlighted where the organisation must put extra effort in reconnecting with farmer levy payers.

Meat & Wool New Zealand Chairman, Mike Petersen said the regional breakdown of voting provided useful information to understand where support was lacking and where additional work was required. There were some significant regional differences with less support for the organisation in Southland, Western North Island and Northland.

“In Southland the sheepmeat, beef and wool levies all struggled to find support. Even though no comprehensive alternative proposal was presented, the “No” vote campaign had an impact and so we must look closely at the reasons for dissatisfaction and make sure we respond to farmer concerns.

“In Northland and the Western North Island electorates, dissatisfaction was directed at both the beef and wool levies.

“In most cases the levies were lost on less than 100 votes on a one-farmer-one-vote basis. However, the clear message is that we need to work more closely with farmers to explain the benefits of their levy investment and also to understand what further issues need to be addressed.”

Mr Petersen said while it was farmers at the two ends of the country and the Western North Island, that had spoken most forcefully to the organisation, he was under no illusion that all New Zealand sheep and beef farmers expected to see more value in the future from their sheepmeat and beef levies.

“We are committed to doing better and ensuring we move forward as an organisation that has relevance and impact for farmers and delivers value to their businesses.

“As a result of the loss of the wool levy, we are now in a process of recasting budgets and reassessing programmes and activities to ensure they are the ones that will provide the biggest benefit for the most farmers.”

Mr Petersen said the shakeup given by farmers provided the opportunity to be more focused, and a restructured organisation would emerge in the coming months with a set of activities and programmes that deliver value.

“What’s important now is that we understand what farmers have told us, but move forward in a positive way to capture the opportunities for our sector.”

Voting results by region and levy stream are attached to this message, or can be viewed on the Meat & Wool New Zealand website www.meatandwoolnz.com

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