Opinion: Urban and Rural Must Unite for Freshwater 

I’ve been to some fantastic local events recently that have brought town and country together.

The Waiau and Southland A&P shows, the Southern Field Days – Waimumu, the Thornbury Vintage Tractor & Implement Club’s new History of Farming Display and the Edendale Crank-up Day.

They have been incredible celebrations that showcase the very best of our province and it’s made me think about the important relationship between rural and urban people.

Here in the South, we rely on each other for staff and for employment, for services and for food – Southland’s economy is based around the rural sector.

The land is also intrinsic. Whether you own a home in Waikiwi, a 3ha lifestyle block at Makarewa, a farmlet at Tisbury, or a sheep and beef operation at Otautau, it is the land that we are invested in.

We are also a close-knit community. You don’t have to go far to meet somebody that knows you or knows of your family.

I like that about Southland. I like that we are connected. That local people are generous, friendly and kind and that we are proud of the place where we live.

But what worries me is the growing divide between rural and urban that’s happening across the country – and even here in the South.

As Environment Minister I regularly hear accusations about the quality of our freshwater, many involving finger-pointing and blame, with much of it targeted at farming.

I want to say right now – that this sort of negativity does nothing to address the issues.

The state of our waterways – our rivers, our lakes, and our beaches – is the responsibility of all New Zealanders.

To that end, I do not believe that recrimination, or finger-pointing, will do anything to advance our cause – other than to create division and enmity.

Pollution occurs in both rural and urban areas – and it is something that we must all continue to work at improving.

And doing it in a collective way – in a ‘Southland’ way – I believe, will be our most effective tool going forward.

Published by arrangement.
Penny Simmonds, Member of Parliament for Invercargill.
Email: [email protected]