Despite some of its actions leading to mass protests in the streets, the coalition government is on the right path.
So say three ACT MPs visiting Ashburton on Thursday last week as part of the political party’s winter tour.
Minister Andrew Hoggard and ACT spokespeople Todd Stephenson and Mark Cameron visited the Ashburton Forks property of Chris Allen to talk to farmers, then stopped by in Ashburton to talk to media.
In response to questions from The Ashburton Courier, they said they had no regrets regarding some of the most controversial government initiatives this political term. These include ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill and the coalition government’s fast track legislation.
Both of these have led to protests throughout the country.
Stephenson said the principles bill was a longstanding ACT policy representative of the party wanting to have ‘‘a grown-up conversation’’ on the Treaty of Waitangi and how it could be used to unify New Zealand.
‘‘We believe everyone should have the same rights.’’
They supported the fast track legislation as a temporary measure until the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill was introduced.
‘‘At the end of the day, everybody should have a fast track, whether they are building a deck or a power station,’’ Hoggard said.
The Biosecurity and Food Safety Minister said the amendment bill, which proposes urgent targeted changes to the resource management system, would help Mid Canterbury farmers. For example, they would benefit from changes around stock exclusion rules and the removal of intensive winter grazing requirements.
Cameron echoed Hoggard’s comments.
‘‘The RMA is significantly outdated, it is no longer fit for purpose,’’ Cameron said.
When it came to the coalition government’s policy on English names first, they did not think Te Whare Whakatere should change its name to the Ashburton Library and Civic Centre.
‘‘Whatever the residents of Ashburton want to call it,’’ Hoggard said.
ACT’s winter tour, aimed at hearing from people at grassroots level, began in Invercargill last week and finishes in Te Puke tomorrow.
The stop after Ashburton was Tentburn Hatchery at Southbridge, then the three MPs met supporters in Wigram that evening.
