Straggle Muster 160 - 17/6/2005
Tom Lambie, Federated Farmers National President
This week I wrote to the 18,000 members of Federated Farmers asking for their support for a week long call to action. Though the letter went to a very large number of farmers, its key message was relevant to an even wider group -- all landowners.
It asked for as many as possible to join our justified protest against the proposed access legislation. We want farmers up and down the country to show their support by tying an orange ribbon on their gate, and closing that gate to public access for one week, June 16-23.
Legislating to allow the public free access to private land, without compensation to the landowner, can only be described as theft. It's the kind of theft we expect the government to protect us from. Landowners with significant waterways (streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and coastal foreshore) all stand to lose property rights if the general public is given foot access along waterway margins.
We don't agree that access is a problem, and we don't think that new law is required. Federated Farmers' surveys show that most people are granted access to where they want to go by asking permission from the owner.
As a compromise, we offered the government our skills to facilitate public requests by developing a Visitor Protocol. But no, the government didn't listen, so many members of Federated Farmers sprang into action.
More than 25,000 people have signed the North Canterbury province-instigated Land Access Petition, which will be delivered to Parliament this month. Working with Federated Farmers' Provincial Presidents and members, we put together an access campaign. I invite you to join this action.
The campaign is highly symbolic and gives you the opportunity to participate. The important thing is that as many people as possible support this action and do their bit. Federated Farmers' staff are here to help and are absolutely committed to ensuring that your protests - whether it be local, provincial or at Parliament - are successful.
As a service to our 18,000 members, Federated Farmers has gone ahead and produced the Visitor Protocol. This clearly sets out the understanding between farmers and visitors, and is available as a duplicate pad -- a copy for the visitor, a copy for you. There are 50 in each pad available to members for $15 including GST and postage and handling.
My letter also included a sticker for the farm gate which says "Ask For Access". The sticker does not obligate farmers to provide access - it just reminds people they must ask. Using the pad and asking visitors to sign the protocol reinforces this.
I have written to recreation groups asking them to respect landowners' rights to protest, and asking their members to stay off private land for the week. Federated Farmers will also be asking the media to pass on this request to the wider public.
Federated Farmers web page http://www.fedfarm.org.nz, will provide regular updates of our campaign, and email addresses where you can send photographs of you and your closed, be-ribboned gate.
Remember to close your gate to public access at 1pm, Thursday, June 16, and tie an orange ribbon or something else orange to the gate. Leave it closed to public access for one week. Join this protest against the proposed access legislation. The more support we have, the more likely the government and public will listen to our arguments.
Tom Lambie is President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc)
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