Ag Minister wants Crafars out of industry, criticises Fonterra

Agriculture Minister David Carter. Photo / Christchurch Star.

Agriculture Minister David Carter says 'dirty dairy farmer' Allan Crafar could do huge damage to New Zealand's reputation and needed to leave the industry, but MAF, Fonterra and Crafar's banks should work independently to deal with Crafar Farms financial and operational problems.

The government would not intervene to force a solution, he said.

A video showing animal neglect at Crafar Farms' was obtained by interest.co.nz this week, shocking many farmers and townies alike.

"He's certainly the type of person who potentially does huge damage to New Zealand's reputation," Agriculture and Forestry Minister David Carter told interest.co.nz in an interview.

"From what we saw last night, it's fairly clear to me that he's a person we want out of the New Zealand agriculture industry," said Carter, who owns two large sheep and beef farms.

Carter said he was not aware of Crafar Farms' animal neglect being part of a wider trend in New Zealand's larger dairy farms. He said he was waiting for MAF to report back on its investigation of the Crafar Farms.

Carter defended MAF inspectors' decision to often notify farmers before they visit. He said MAF's primary role was to stop animals suffering as quickly as possibly, which might mean working with the farm managers to take immediate action.

Carter criticised Fonterra's approach to Crafar Farms over the years.

"I think Fonterra needs to be far more proactive than it has been in the past," Carter said.

Carter rejected any suggestion that the government might step in to force Fonterra, MAF and Crafars' banks to resolve the situation, saying instead that each group had to play its own role.

Carter agreed the Crafar Farms case was potentially a massive risk to New Zealand's reputation.

INTEREST.CO.NZ