Farmers are calling on the government to double the amount of funding land owners get to help protect special areas and species on private farming land. They get this money from the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust. It was set up to encourage people to look after things like special areas of bush and wetland and the animals and the critics that live there. But Federated Farmers says government funding has remained the same at four point three million dollars for a decade, despite costs and demand increasing. So we've got the vice president of Federated Farmers joining me right now, Colin Hurst. Good morning to you, sir, Yeah, good morning Andrew. A decade. It hasn't changed for a decade.

Farmers are calling on the government to double the amount of funding land owners get to help protect special areas and species on private farming land. They get this money from the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust. It was set up to encourage people to look after things like special areas of bush and wetland and the animals and the critics that live there. But Federated Farmers says government funding has remained the same at four point three million dollars for a decade, despite costs and demand increasing. So we've got the vice president of Federated Farmers joining me right now, Colin Hurst. Good morning to you, sir, Yeah, good morning Andrew. A decade. It hasn't changed for a decade.

Yeah, I know, it's quite unbelievable. Inflation sort of gone up over the past few years. So we just think it's time for the country to get in a step in and help farmers and lease special areas.

Yeah, I know, it's quite unbelievable. Inflation sort of gone up over the past few years. So we just think it's time for the country to get in a step in and help farmers and lease special areas.

And four point three million dollars seems like a drop in the bucket.

And four point three million dollars seems like a drop in the bucket.

Yeah, it's not much really on the on the face of it, you know, there's significant areas that farmers. That's I think it's one hundred and eighty seven thousand. He years, which is a pretty big area.

Yeah, it's not much really on the on the face of it, you know, there's significant areas that farmers. That's I think it's one hundred and eighty seven thousand. He years, which is a pretty big area.

Well, I was going to say, you told me the hector is but how many actual farms need this funding? How many farmers are involved with looking for funding and then looking after special places.

Well, I was going to say, you told me the hector is but how many actual farms need this funding? How many farmers are involved with looking for funding and then looking after special places.

Well, so there's five two hundred areas protected and there could be more than one on farm, so not exactly sure how many areas, but of farms, but that's a pretty stine area.

Well, so there's five two hundred areas protected and there could be more than one on farm, so not exactly sure how many areas, but of farms, but that's a pretty stine area.

Five two hundreds a big number. Don't you worry about that, mate, it's it's a big number. So over the ten years, while funding has stayed static, how has demand increased.

Five two hundreds a big number. Don't you worry about that, mate, it's it's a big number. So over the ten years, while funding has stayed static, how has demand increased.

Definitely? Here? Well it's so it's gone from four thousand to five two hundred over the last ten years, so there's twenty eight percent increased. So certainly demand here and this farmers lining up to particuland these special areas.

Definitely? Here? Well it's so it's gone from four thousand to five two hundred over the last ten years, so there's twenty eight percent increased. So certainly demand here and this farmers lining up to particuland these special areas.

So if you have twenty eight percent more demand for funding, then surely the funding should have gone up twenty eight percent and that leans it would then be considered to have stayed static.

So if you have twenty eight percent more demand for funding, then surely the funding should have gone up twenty eight percent and that leans it would then be considered to have stayed static.

Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, definitely. Well yeah, well that's that's yeah. So that's why we're asking for an increase.

Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, definitely. Well yeah, well that's that's yeah. So that's why we're asking for an increase.

So what what does this money specifically used for?

So what what does this money specifically used for?

Well, for a farmer has an area of land and he voluntarily wants to protect it for the country. They need to identify the area, they need to fence it off, they need to take care of the peace and weeds in that type of thing, and then there's legal costs to get it because these special areas are protected on the title of their land, so it's there forever it cannot be taken off. So it's it's sort of like a national park. Really, it's that it's that well protected.

Well, for a farmer has an area of land and he voluntarily wants to protect it for the country. They need to identify the area, they need to fence it off, they need to take care of the peace and weeds in that type of thing, and then there's legal costs to get it because these special areas are protected on the title of their land, so it's there forever it cannot be taken off. So it's it's sort of like a national park. Really, it's that it's that well protected.

And how expensive is that to protect these bits of land that the farmers have been told that they have to protect.

And how expensive is that to protect these bits of land that the farmers have been told that they have to protect.

Well, there was a study done in the Waiketo University and they're estimating it's between four hundred and forty million and six hundred and thirty million, and that was a decade ago those figures, so it's obviously whole lot more air.

Well, there was a study done in the Waiketo University and they're estimating it's between four hundred and forty million and six hundred and thirty million, and that was a decade ago those figures, so it's obviously whole lot more air.

Hold on you're saying four to six hundred million, and yet the funding is four point three.

Hold on you're saying four to six hundred million, and yet the funding is four point three.

Yeah, it's as you feel. Really, it's the figures in significant really that we just need the government to do it.

Yeah, it's as you feel. Really, it's the figures in significant really that we just need the government to do it.

Really, well, what are you going to do next?

Really, well, what are you going to do next?

Well, we're starting to have a bit of a publicity campaign about it. I think it's a no brainer. The other little part about this, there's the rules that like the significant natural areas. That's something the government are putty hot on. This is what district councils do. That's the stick approach. You know, farmers must do this, but we think the q E two funding is a whole lot better way to do it. This is voluntarily keeping areas and farmers just want to do this sort of stuff.

Well, we're starting to have a bit of a publicity campaign about it. I think it's a no brainer. The other little part about this, there's the rules that like the significant natural areas. That's something the government are putty hot on. This is what district councils do. That's the stick approach. You know, farmers must do this, but we think the q E two funding is a whole lot better way to do it. This is voluntarily keeping areas and farmers just want to do this sort of stuff.

Of course, if you've got the will, all you need is the money and that's a good thing and I thank you so much. Colin Hurst is the Federated Farmers Vice President.

Of course, if you've got the will, all you need is the money and that's a good thing and I thank you so much. Colin Hurst is the Federated Farmers Vice President.

For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to News Talks it Be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on it our Radio

For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to News Talks it Be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on it our Radio