Govt 'getting free ride on sheep's back'

By Philippa Stevenson

The Meat Board director campaigning for recognition of sheep as New Zealand's top tourism icon has criticised the Government for freeloading on farmer-funded overseas promotions.

Newly elected director John McCarthy said that unquestionably Meat Board promotion in overseas markets had "definite advantages for New Zealand tourism."

But last week, Food and Fibre Minister John Luxton rejected Mr McCarthy's call for agricultural producers to be represented on the Tourism Board.

Mr McCarthy staked the claim because overseas tourists rate agriculture, the natural environment, and particularly sheep, as highlights of their visits.

At the board annual meeting Mr Luxton said it was not appropriate for sector groups to be on the Tourism Board because its members were not there "to lobby for one particular sector."

After the meeting, Mr Carthy said Mr Luxton needed to realise that the free market policies he championed had left the sheep and beef sector "standing naked on the world stage while everyone else keeps their clothes on."

Instead of the Government favouring the Tourism Board with $55 million of taxpayer funds, "we need to realise that we are all in this together and put some genuine effort into the establishment of a New Zealand Inc-type philosophy."

If sectors continued to act in isolation, and tourism and the Government freeloaded on farmer-funded promotion, then logically farmers should get a "greenkeeper's fee in acknowledgement of the enormous contribution made by the farming community with its free presentation of pictorial rural imagery," Mr McCarthy said.