Gerry Eckhoff, Act party, List

Gerry Eckhoff

MP Gerry Eckhoff is Act party spokesman on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, biosecurity, rural affairs, land and land information. He spoke with Herald political reporter Kevin Taylor.

You have a rather loud voice, possibly the loudest in Parliament. Why?

I've been deaf, I'm told, since birth. Yes, I speak loudly to hear myself speak, but I also try to articulate as well as I can.

If Act doesn't get back into Parliament, what's your Plan B?

I haven't thought of a Plan B. I've got a family farm, so clearly that's a great comfort. But I think my time as a practising farmer is coming to an end. I'm 58. I've had a few people say to me I shouldn't have any difficulties getting appointments or getting into other fields associated with politics, perhaps.

What's your farming background?

I've been a farmer for about 35 years. I had my subsidies taken away by Roger Douglas, Richard Prebble and team, and now I'm working for them. The farm is in Roxburgh just above the Roxburgh Dam. We've got about a bit over 6000 acres [2428ha] of sheep and beef that runs up to about 4500 feet [1372m].

Got a rabbit problem at the moment?

Not in my time, anyway. RCD [rabbit calicivirus] fixed that.

Do you believe Act will be in Parliament after the election?

Yeah, I do. In 1996, '99 and 2002 we were written off and we were never much more than 2 per cent in the polls. We are helluva good campaigners and I think people have come to recognise we are principled.

What do you think of Rodney Hide as leader?

I hope he gets another chance to prove himself. He has been leader for only a bit over a year now and in difficult circumstances against a Government that seemed impregnable. Thanks to Rodney and thanks to a few of us, and I think I've contributed, we've seen this Government not just looking shaky but decidedly vulnerable.

Do you think you had a major part to play in the land access changes being put on the backburner by the Government?

Without question, and in all modesty, it is widely recognised in rural New Zealand that I led the charge on that. But the sentence has been suspended - I don't believe for one second it's going to go away.

Why shouldn't people have access to our public waterways?

I'm absolutely in favour of access. I'm a city boy, and to get access to the countryside is part of who we are. But the fundamental principle that takes precedence over that is property rights. If the Government wants to confiscate the exclusive use that every landowner has on their property they must compensate. That has been my argument from day one.

Are you obsessed with property rights?

I'm passionate about it. And I think the people, for example, who just had their sawmill application turned down in the Coromandel because of a walkway will also understand that you can no longer do business or create an industry on your own land, and that I think is just appalling.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love reading about the evolution of the legal framework around property. My other passion is golf.

In 2001 you floated the idea of farming kiwi - for consumption - to help to save them from extinction. Do you still hold that view?

No, it wasn't for consumption. Conservationist John Wamsley from Australia spoke at our conference and said under farming you'll get so successful you'll be able to eat them. I don't believe I have ever said I want to see kiwiburgers. You would farm them to save them.