Awatere Farmer Steve Satterthwaite gives his perspective on the dire straits of wilding funding.

Date: 18th September 2023

A really good interview with Steve Satterthwaite from Muller station in Marlborough. https://www.rexonline.co.nz/home/podcasts.html. Scroll down and look for this podcast:

Steve talks about his perspective as a large high-country landowner but also as a member of the South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust and the challenges of getting New Zealanders to understand the scale of the problem in our remote not often seen alpine landscapes. Landscapes we stand to lose if we are unable to resolve the current funding situation.

Steve suggests that funding needs to be guaranteed, pan government and industry wide – a levy similar to TB eradication in NZ – a benefit to NZ Inc not just pastoral farming. It needs to be a funding solution compounding year on year (for at least the next 15 years) as trees are growing and guaranteed funding from year to year and not reliant on 3-year parliamentary cycles which provide little security long term.

It’s a pragmatic and strong argument to finish the job.

---

Posted in: News, Uncategorized