Federated Farmers Podcast
The Federated Farmers Podcast is your weekly guide to the issues affecting rural New Zealand. Join us as we unpack the policies, challenges and big ideas shaping life on farm. With frank conversations from farmers, advocates and experts, we break down what matters and why, so you can stay informed, prepared and heard. Hosted by Ben Chapman-Smith.
Federated Farmers Podcast
When farming meets red tape: David Clark and Colin Hurst on the consent crisis | EP 54
Farmers across New Zealand are voicing growing frustration with regional councils, resource consents, and the cost of compliance. Nothing has captured that frustration quite like Canterbury farmer David Clark’s recent Facebook post, which outlined his family’s ordeal in trying to renew a straightforward consent for their mixed arable, seed and livestock farm. The post struck a nerve, was shared widely across rural communities, and has drawn sharp attention from the Beehive.
In this episode, David joins us to tell his story firsthand — the stress, the cost, and the uncertainty his family has faced just trying to keep their farm running. We’re also joined by Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst, who explains how widespread these problems are, why short-term consents are such a headache, and what needs to change in the system.