Deer Industry Reform Gathers Momentum

2/22/1999

Deer farmers all around the country are being invited to have their say about reform and the industry’s future.

Facilitated by the New Zealand Game Industry Board (NZGIB), the deer industry has taken an active approach to reform.

Producer meetings, a separate Reform group, consultative documents and an industry poll are all part of a comprehensive consultation mix perhaps only possible in a relatively small industry.

Nearly 20 meetings will be held during March -- from Whangarei to Te Anau -- to discuss reform recommendations covering everything from whether there should be a separate deer industry organisation to voting rights to industry programmes to projected levies.

The recommendations build on farmer views from last year’s consultation round, and have been put together by the industry’s Reform Group. This includes representatives from all industry interest groups, even those not generally known as NZGIB supporters, so that a fair and fully representative range of views is put to the industry.

"Our goal is a modern, cost-effective structure which promotes the collective interests of the deer industry for the common good and adds value by assisting the on-going development of the industry," said NZGIB Chairman Clive Jermy.

"Last year, 96 percent of our farmer survey respondents said they wanted a collective deer industry organisation. They had clear views on the role and spending priorities for such an organisation.

"Those views have now been fleshed out into a series of proposed and costed industry activities, with recommendations about structures, governance issues and funding.

"We’re sending out a very comprehensive reform document to all industry stakeholders before the meetings so they can think about the issues. With about 4500 farmers it’s a major exercise but achievable and we think it’s important to go to these lengths.

"The Reform Group will take feedback from those meetings into account in putting together an industry poll, scheduled for April.

"Although producer board reform was initially driven by the government, we believe the industry participants should have the responsibility of deciding the future role and structure of its collective representation. Provided the approach fits broadly with the government’s perspective, this is an industry not a political decision.

"Our plan is to finalise the new industry approach and associated structures for discussion with the government in May and to the industry at its conference in Napier in June", he concluded.

The meetings are being organised with local branches of the Deer Farmers Association and are open to all deer farmers and others with an interest in the industry. All deer farmers are encouraged to attend the meetings, and have their say about their industry’s future.