The Government’s emissions pricing policy announcement today is economic sabotage that will drive food prices up and devastate rural New Zealand, says Groundswell NZ co-founder Bryce McKenzie.

“It defies common sense to reduce the production of the world’s most emissions efficient food producers through a blunt tax.”

“With a net increase of 80 million extra people in the world in 2021, how do our leaders propose this growing human population be fed if they reduce food production?”

“Reducing food production in NZ is insane when countries like those in South America will continue to clear vast areas of rainforest to meet the growing world demand for more food.”

“If, as the Government says, overseas markets and customers are demanding food that is the most emissions efficient in the world, then New Zealand should increase our food production, not decrease it.”

“The emissions tax will take millions of dollars out of rural communities, delivering multiple disastrous outcomes.“

“It will drive more farmers out of business, and reduce farmers’ spending in local businesses and on environmental work, as more food producing farmland is accelerated into pines.”

“This is not the sort of Christmas present our country needs as we face the prospect of a world recession," says Mr McKenzie.

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