Organisers hail ‘fantastic’ Groundswell protest event

Показать описание

The organisers of yesterday's Groundswell protest in Gisborne against the Government's proposed agriculture emissions pricing scheme were thrilled with the turnout and the public response.

More than 200 vehicles and several hundred protesters, both farmers and farming supporters, paraded into the city from Matawhero.

“It was a fantastic event and we feel we got our point across firmly, that farming as we know it will be under serious threat if the Government's proposals become law next year,” said Groundswell Gisborne organisers Maurice and Annie Flood.

The procession participants made plenty of noise, vehicle horns tooting, as they drove down Gladstone Road to the Grey Street corner and back out to Matawhero.

They had their theme “We're not going to take it” loud for everyone to hear as they went by, the words of the song by Twisted Sister blaring out.

A former topdressing Beaver aircraft flew over the procession route, adding to the atmosphere of the protest.

“We got so much support from people tooting in other vehicles and waving out with thumbs up on the footpaths along the route,” the Floods said.

“We also had some members of the public display placards supporting us, particularly at the Grey Street roundabout.

“It was really heartwarming to see the level of community support.”

The Floods said it was obvious the support was urban and rural.

“We're a country town, and people know that if farming suffers, the whole community suffers,” the couple said.

East Coast farmer and poet Graeme Williams told the protesters before they moved off that no district in the country would be more significantly affected by the Government's agriculture emissions pricing proposals that Gisborne-East Coast.

“We stand to lose 20 percent plus of sheep and beef operations in this region, which will be devastating.”

The global impact of the Government's proposals would be like taking a cup of water from the ocean, Mr Williams said.

“The best thing we as farmers can do for the world when it comes to emissions is to keep doing what we are doing, because New Zealand farmers are the best, most efficient in the world.”

Some young farmers spoken to said they were very unhappy with the changes to the pricing structure of the Emissions Trading Scheme has proposed and how it will impact on farmers.

They were also worried about what it will mean for future generations of farmers, particularly their children when they go farming.

Storm Baynes-Ryan said she took part in the protest for her family's future.

“If the pricing scheme stays the way it is it will be very tricky for them to stay on the farm.”

Hilton Alexander said the additional costs the Government proposes “will take some farmers to the wall”.

Fraser Tombleson said farmers had dragged the New Zealand economy through the tough Covid period.

“Now the Government wants to try to kick us in the guts with this. That's how it feels,” he said.

Krissy Macintosh from Hear4U, the mental health awareness group, said farmers were under so much pressure now.

“If this scheme stays the way it is the collateral damage will be huge; it's going to be massive.”

Caroline Kirkpatrick reflected the mood of the protest, commenting, “I'm concerned about the future of farming in New Zealand.”

The Floods said the Groundswell movement would now await the Government response to the protest.

“If we're still not happy with the Government response then this won't be the end of the protesting, and next time we'll try harder.

“Right now we've made a statement about how we feel, and now we need to see how the Government responds.”

' Police led the protest procession into the city yesterday and kept an eye on it.

“There were no issues that we were aware of,” said a police spokesperson.

Filmed and Edited by
Ben Cowper

SUBSCRIBE!