What is New Zealand Doing to Encourage Rural Development?
While New Zealand does not have an official rural development programme as such, under the wide definition of development accepted in New Zealand, many of the facilitation and partnership activities undertaken by government departments in conjunction with the community in rural areas could, when considered together, be loosely labelled as 'rural development'.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), in particular, has been tasked with a range of activities which relate to the desired outcomes of Ministers of Agriculture to promote the growth, prosperity and well being of New Zealand's agricultural industries and rural communities. This means that since 1991 MAF's traditional work with the agriculture sector has widened to include a greater focus on the non-farm part of rural New Zealand and a greater emphasis on the structural and people side of the farming industry.
Rural people require access to policy proposals if they are to participate effectively in planning for their own needs in making a living and a satisfactory lifestyle, and their area's future development. This means they need to be in contact with the people deciding on policies at central and local government levels. In New Zealand government agencies are working at puffing mechanisms in place to ensure rural people are adequately consulted and that the special conditions of rural location are taken into account in the process of policy development.
To assist in the process of ensuring rural people are aware of new legislation or changes to existing legislation, MAF Policy publishes (on a monthly basis) a document called the Rural Bulletin. This is distributed free to about 1800 individuals and networks across rural New Zealand. The Bulletin provides information on government programmes and policies, changes in the structure of government departments, information on matters such as funding sources and ideas for, and examples of, community self help. Jn addition, Community Help, a directory of the services provided by government and non-government agencies (which includes a description of each service) is published on an annual basis.
The Rural Resources Group is also charged with facilitating community, organisational and individual achievement of opportunities. As part of this activity the Minister of Agriculture has held a series of seminars throughout rural New Zealand on rural opportunities and initiatives which the community may take to develop their areas. Speakers at the seminars pointed to many excellent ideas already in place. For example, special packaging of graded, quality, washed Qamani potatoes ensures a premium return for this product; while in partnership with government (through Taskforce Green - see appendix 2) activities such as developing walking tracks, sand dune fencing, tree planting and amenity improvements contribute to a pleasant environment which is expected to encourage tourism.
MAF has a responsibility within the Policy Advice output to monitor and assess the impact of issues and events on rural communities, and ensure these communities participate in policy development. Under this contract there is a requirement to work wit other government departments, to ensure rural communities have a clear explanation of Government policies and community views are heard in the process of developing and modifying these policies. MAF holds meetings with other departments and ministries on a regular basis to exchange details on the servicing and information concerns and needs of rural people. Alignment also occurs with local government (regional and district councils), and consultation with rural organisations (such as Womens Division Federated Farmers, Federated Farmers, Young Farmers Club) and community groups (eg South Canterbury Integrated Rural Development Board, Southern Forum) to try to ensure a representative view of policy implications on rural people are considered at central government level.
MAF is also developing systems so that Maori will have more opportunity to influence the decisions and services that affect their land and water resources. One approach has been the development of the Ka Awatea ('awakening') project. This started as a two part project. The first part was a report on government policies and programmes for rural Maori (undertaken for MAF by a research consultant). The second part was to be a pilot study undertaken by two rural Maori communities within the Hokianga. The communities represented by their runanga (council) and takiwa (tribal area) executives, were to undertake the research themselves - assessing their needs and, using the first report as a basis, judging the usefulness of the policies and programmes in meeting these needs. A final report was then to be prepared to provide feedback on the value of the government's policies to the officials who participated in the first part of the projecL
By leaving it to the communities to decide what their needs were, the project underwent a subfle change. Te Runanga 0 Te Rarawa (in the Kaitaia area) undertook an analysis of the Resource Management Act. They decided their greatest need was to find out how the Act applied to them, and thought through how they might research this.
In the first instance they called meetings with, and sought information from, government officials from a range of departments on the application of the Act. They also undertook a series of developmental activities to enable them to extend the teamwork and management skills of the runanga so that it would be better able to develop a Resource Management Plan for the rohe (local geographic area). This has included getting their accountant to explain their community trust budget to them so that instead of just endorsing the decisions the accountant makes on their behalf, they can now give informed opinions on how they want their money to be spent. Time spent in runanga planning has revealed a need to involve the rangatahi (youth) more in all areas of activity. There is also a need to identify potential leaders from amongst the rangatahi and to develop them. Hui (meeting) are being planned to both interest rangatahi in runanga involvement and help in identification of possible youth leadership.
Te Wahapu 0 Hokianga Takiwa in the Kaikohe area decided to assess their resources and analyze the structure of their community (with particular emphasis placed on matters of importance to the takiwa). From that basis they will develop a management plan setting out the future direction for the takiwa.
MAF has provided a draft report of government programmes and policies for rural Maori (as the final is not yet complete) and a statistical report describing the takiwa area. These, combined with the taaliwa's own needs assessment will provide the information necessary for Te Wahapu 0 Hokianga Takiwa to assess how well government policies and programmes can assist them in achieving their desired goals.
The projects, though not yet fully complete, have already proved so successful that the two communities intend undertaking the research project the other community worked on.
A fourth part on land use - has been added to the overall project, again undertaken by a member of the community. In this project a member of Ngapuhi O Te Marangal Takiwa in the Kerikeri area is identifying the land resource for the takiwa. In a small sample of land blocks, the current management structure, state and use of the land is being identified, the land area and its ownership is being catalogued and the researcher is talking with the owners to see what they would like to do with their land resource. This work has attracted positive interest from the Far North District Council who have plans to facilitate some development in a range of farms systems on Maori land. This idea has also been received well by Maori owners.
The takiwa see this work which was initiated by MAF, but developed by the community, as both useful and timely. While MAP has provided seeding finance and some research guidance, the communities regard this work as of sufficient worth to them that they have sought additional funding outside MAP. The projects have enabled community members to learn a range of new skills as well as more about themselves and their strengths, and how to use these to implement development strategies and activities.
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Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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