Federated Farmers warned Northland farmers almost three years ago to watch out for a "perfect storm" of rural crime as animal theft and drug-growing operations ramped up, says New Zealand First leader and Northland MP Winston Peters.
"Around this time of year, farmers were advised that stock thefts typically increased as cannabis growers took advantage of farmland to cultivate illicit crops."
But rustling was not just a Northland issue, Mr Peters said. It was estimated to cost New Zealand farmers about $120 million a year, and it spoke volumes that Britain and Australia did much more to analyse and defeat rustling than was done in New Zealand.
Rustling also robbed orchardists of crops and beekeepers, who were losing hives as manuka honey prices soared. Nineteen hives, worth about $14,000, were recently stolen from a Central Hawke's Bay farm and similar thefts were common in Northland.
"Vigilance and reporting suspicious activity and thefts of stock, equipment or fuel is key but there's more than a suspicion that rural crime is a low priority," Mr Peters said.