Reports of a "sale by tender" of one of our most
iconic livestock farming properties - Mangaheia Station, inland from Tolaga Bay
- is welcome news for most of us who
have been nervously watching the process since it was listed for sale.
Foremost amongst the reasons for our satisfaction with
the result is the fact that the property is now in the hands of two local
farming families with long histories of adding value to everything they commit
to.
It could have been so different!
Thankfully, the outcome can best be described as
"the region having dodged a bullet!"
For the benefit of those who should be interested (which
is most of us) this particular sale process had all the characteristics of a
trend that is seeing our heritage and economic viability as a nation gutted
while we sleep.
While it was conducted legitimately under the guise of
our democratic principles that allows individuals or groups to buy and sell
property within the law as it applies to sales of this type, it remains a
process that needs to be reviewed in the best interests of the whole country.
Because, if it isn't, next time we might not be so lucky.
Let me explain.
As this parliamentary term draws to a close, the
government's influence on charting our future during the last three years is
coming into focus and their performance during that time on our behalf will be
judged in September when we all have a chance to review how well we think they
have done in the circumstances. That is how it should be.
On Election Day, as the votes are counted, we will be
able to see what the public think of this Government's performance in areas
that have affected us personally.
While it is fair that our governing politicians are held
to account for things that didn't proceed according to promises made, we should
be mindful that there are some issues that have got out of hand where we, the
people who put them there, are equally culpable and should accept some of the
blame simply for licensing activities that we should have known would not work
in our favour.
The classic example is the Provincial Growth Fund, a New
Zealand First initiative that was partly responsible for Winston Peters being
able to anoint our current Prime Minister. From a provincial perspective,
particularly here in the Tairawhiti, this generous programme has been the
"life support" that has meant survival during these recent tumultuous
years.
Unfortunately however, that scheme has a dark side that,
while difficult to identify during its initial inception, is now shown to be
something akin to " full blown Aids " which although catchable only
through intimacy, is potentially deadly once it gets established in the system.
I'm obviously talking about the expansion of the forestry
estate that is consuming large tracts of our traditional livestock farmland which
has been largely funded or assisted by the taxpayer in the form of a grant from
the Provincial Growth Fund.
And of course, the Government's involvement in the
expansion of the forestry industry that has decimated many rural communities,
is not just reflected in the funding of these developments. It has set the
climate that enables or even encourages foreign or non-farming interests to
legitimately invest in our communities with the result that similar properties
to Mangaheia around the country are vulnerable to this predator influence. The
evidence of how this works in the marketplace can be seen in the list of
underbidders when properties of this quality are put up for sale. Many of them,
as in this case, are forestry interests with deep pockets.
Surely, the time has come for us to decide who and what
we want to be.
"Tokoroa by the Sea" or a vibrant community
with a mix of industries that peacefully coexist in an environment where we
respect each other's security concerns while working together contributing in
our own way to the region's strategic development.
In the meantime, add the names of our two courageous
families to the cabinet list of those being considered for honours in the next
round. Like Horatio at the Bridge, they have defended against incredible odds
on our behalf. We should be eternally grateful.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and
community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
No comments:
Post a Comment