Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party

Dirty dairy farmers risk ruining the New Zealand tourism industry with their unacceptable effluent management, Labour’s tourism spokesperson Kelvin Davis said today. Dirty dairy farmers risking “100% Pure NZ” brand


Dirty dairy farmers risk ruining the New Zealand tourism industry with their unacceptable effluent management, Labour’s tourism spokesperson Kelvin Davis said today.

“Dairy farming and tourism earn similar amounts in export dollars for New Zealand but whereas tourism is sustainable and complements farming, quite a number of dairy farmers seem unconcerned with the effect their questionable effluent management is having on tourism,” Kelvin Davis said.

“Our clean green image is taking a battering overseas because of the National Government’s attitude to environmental issues.

“John Key wants to mine on the conservation estate, he introduced a shonky emissions trading scheme and has taken a ‘do nothing’ approach to Japan’s continued flouting of whaling conventions.”

Kelvin Davis says the Government must mount a concerted effort to give the dirty dairy farmers the message that they have to clean up their act.

“John Key as Minister of Tourism and the Agriculture and Environment Ministers can not let the irresponsible actions of some farmers ruin the ability of Kiwis and visitors to New Zealand to enjoy our streams.

“The latest audit of our rivers and streams clearly shows they’re becoming increasingly polluted by dairy effluent. It’s one thing for the National to talk tough on dirty dairying, but in the best interests of our multi-billion dollar tourism industry it must also get tough.”

ENDS

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