Editorial: Dark clouds loom over Horizons' decision

THE DECISION by Horizons to abrogate their responsibilities for adhering to the One Plan is a shocker.

Horizons can't act as the Victoria Ave (Palmerston North) branch of Federated Farmers, or Dairy or Horticulture Inc for that matter.

The herd mentality of backing the farming industry over the rest of its constituents and the health of the environment is outdated and untenable. The health-of-the-economy argument is wearing very thin.

Horizons has environmental responsibilities that do matter and arguments about what farming can bear financially are well outside the statute of limitations.

The tortuous path to One Plan, which Horizons voted in late last year, was a farce if the rules and consents around intensive farming and nutrient leaching are meaningless.

Farming has two choices - to farm smaller or farm differently.

The attitude by Horizons political leadership seems to be summed up in comments by Rod Pearce about Fish & Game, which is considering legal action against the regional council to make it stick to the plan.

He said Fish & Game tended to "stir the pot from time to time". Actually, Councillor Pearce, they are doing your job for you. Thank God someone is taking One Plan seriously.

So far, 52 of the 61 resource consents under the One Plan do not meet the targets and have been issued restricted discretionary consents. A scheme that meant some farmers met the limits and others were allowed off the hook for up to 20 years is unfair and could even impact on farm sale prices. The sky is not going to fall in if farmers and Horizons respect the One Plan. And if Horizons thinks it is, it is time it came clean and became open about its attitudes.