Jun 17, 2025
The following letter and statement were sent to the Paddy Boyd, Chair of the DINZ Board on 16 June 2025. The letter is supported by NZDFA branches:
Dear Paddy,
NZDFA Position on Climate Change Policy
Following the 13 May 2025 Branch Chairs meeting, there was clear message from the branches that the NZDFA should develop a position on New Zealand greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions policy – specifically as it relates to agricultural emissions. This follows a letter from the SCNO Branch last year raising concerns over potential GHG emissions policy implications for deer farming. At that time, the wider branch consensus was to take a wait-and-see position, pending formation of the Pastoral Sector Leaders Group (PSG) and the deer industry’s position within it.
We were pleased to see that on 15 May, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) released its bottom lines for climate change policy. The NZDFA Executive Committee has considered these bottom lines and is in full agreement with them and the supporting rationale. The Executive Committee has consulted with the NZDFA branches and has received overwhelming endorsement for NZDFA to support the B+LNZ position.
In doing so we think this demonstrates a united view from the drystock sector.
NZDFA’s statement is below, while the B+LNZ media release is found here >>
Yours sincerely,
Mark McCoard
Chair, NZDFA Executive Committee
NZDFA Position on Climate Change Policy
16 June 2025
The New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (NZDFA) fully supports the Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) “bottom lines” for climate change policy, namely:
- New Zealand’s domestic methane targets must be amended, based on no additional warming.
- Any targets must not put our economy or rural communities at risk, nor send food production overseas to less efficient producers.
- The pricing of agricultural emissions must be taken off the table.
- Farmers must be able to choose whether or not they use new tools and technologies to reduce their emissions, and we must step carefully through rolling out new technologies to ensure they are safe.
The NZDFA notes that around 80 percent of deer farmers also farm sheep and/or beef cattle, therefore the B+LNZ bottom lines are equally relevant and applicable to deer farmers. Further, the NZDFA also note that deer farms typically incur greater costs of production, and previous analysis indicates that deer farms are disproportionately (negatively) impacted when pricing of agricultural emissions is applied.
As a small industry that complements other livestock farming and provides a valuable alternative income for the country and farm businesses, the NZDFA question how unrealistic emissions reduction targets and punitive pricing will lead to any meaningful and sustainable effect on New Zealand’s contribution to reducing impacts from climate change.
