The guest blog highlights the appointment of former Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard into a key government role in food safety and agriculture. Critics argue that this revolving door exemplifies regulatory capture, raising serious concerns about industry influence over public policy and democratic governance.

The article reports that government proposals to repeal a cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser—which would weaken freshwater protections—are designed to benefit corporate dairy operations and Federated Farmers, raising public health concerns about groundwater contamination across New Zealand.

In response to a survey revealing high rates of abuse among contract milkers, Federated Farmers acknowledged the issue by stating that 'one incident of abuse is one too many' and expressed openness to discussing regulatory changes to provide better protections. While affirming that most farm owners work well with their contract milkers, the organization signaled a willingness to improve contractual fairness and worker protections.

In response to a survey exposing widespread abusive practices in contract milking, Federated Farmers expressed a commitment to enhancing their contract milking agreements to better protect contract milkers. The organization is advocating for review of the existing templated agreements and supports further discussions on legal reform to strengthen labor protections within the dairy sector.

Federated Farmers unveiled a policy platform for the 2023 election, detailing 12 key policy changes aimed at addressing the impacts of recent regulatory reforms on rural communities and farmer wellbeing in New Zealand.

Federated Farmers unveiled a policy roadmap containing 12 key proposals ahead of the 2023 election. The platform outlines changes to current regulatory frameworks affecting water quality, biodiversity, climate measures, and other areas, with an emphasis on restoring farmer confidence and supporting rural communities.

Historical evidence shows that Federated Farmers actively lobbied against farm emissions regulations—most notably, opposing the proposed 'fart tax' in 2003. This opposition contributed to delaying necessary climate regulatory measures and drew significant criticism from environmental groups, reflecting a prioritization of narrow agricultural interests over broader community and environmental welfare.