Working their charms at Fieldays

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

This year’s Fieldays in Hamilton have provided some light amusement for farmers and the rest of the country as the leaders of the two main parties, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and National’s Christopher Luxon, exchanged barbs . . . behind which are some serious issues to be decided.

Luxon left himself open a few days earlier with his comment that the country had become whiny and inward looking, something Hipkins was quick to jump on with relish.

Well, that’s what he said in the private conversation picked up on a 1News mic but it did seem fairly obvious he was talking about the Government rather than New Zealanders as a whole — which he has since said, in a story that reached overseas media.

It was another case, however, where he has spoken without really thinking. Critics say this is a sign that he has not fully adjusted from being a successful businessman to a politician, but his admirers say that is not a bad thing.

The leaders’ spat pales in significance to the important differences the parties have on the issue of agricultural emissions.

The National Party has announced its plan to push back putting a price on farming emissions to 2030 and pledged to never add agriculture to the Emissions Trading Scheme.

National says it still supports He Waka Eke Noa, the partnership between government and primary sector groups which is intended to find a solution to the pricing of farming emissions, but says the Labour Government shot its plan to pieces.

Hipkins has responded by categorically ruling out a fertiliser tax while announcing that nearly $18 million will be spent on a new greenhouse gas testing and research facility, with another $4m towards soil and grass research to help farmers reduce their emissions.

The Government is also trying to reinforce its claim that overseas customers want to see that their meat comes from a country with strong environmental credentials, with major British retailer Tesco saying it will insist on this.

Realistically the Fieldays favour National which has always been the farmers’ party and Labour will always be fighting a rearguard action, aiming its message at the wider community.

On National’s flank, though, it has lost support to its potential government partner ACT which is actively seeking more of the farming vote. Yesterday it released its rural policy that would scrap the Zero Carbon Act.

National needs ACT to be strong enough to join it in government after October but not too strong at its own expense. It is a tricky situation for Luxon, who may need to become more of a politician.