Ewen-Street Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ewen-Street Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5910] 
6.  
IAN EWEN-STREET (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Rural Affairs 
: What steps is he taking to ensure that Government policy takes into account the views of rural communities? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Rural Affairs) 
: 
 I ensure that my Cabinet colleagues and Government agencies consult rural communities as part of the normal process of policy development. In addition the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry provides advice to other departments and to the Government on the likely impact of policy decisions on rural communities. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: Will the Minister respect the views of the 80 percent of farmers who do not want to grow genetically engineered organisms (GE) on their farms and the 50 percent of farmers who want the moratorium extended beyond October as identified by the findings of the recent Lincoln University study; if not why not? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Through the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification inquiry the Government had the most extensive consultation process possible with all New Zealanders and indeed people from outside New Zealand. The outcome of that investigation was an advice to proceed with the use of the technology but with caution. We prefer considered advice to that of ad hoc responses to polls which can too easily be manipulated to produce misleading figures. 
David Parker 
: What recent feedback has the Government had from rural community representatives on some of its Budget initiatives? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Following the delivery of the Budget last week the Government received extremely positive reporting on among other things our increased spending on biosecurity and trade development. It is fair to say that rural New Zealand thinks it has the best Government it has had for a very long time. 
Shane Ardern 
: In the light of that answer what is the Minister’s view on the closure of six Taranaki rural schools with rolls of up to 80 children and of an undecided number of schools in Otago and Wairarapa; the slashing of Targeted Funding for Isolation for rural schools; and further reviews under way resulting in more closures of rural schools with a proven high academic outcome and proven sustainable roll numbers? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Rural communities are always consulted when the Ministry of Education recommends that schools be closed. We always treat local views with respect and they do frequently result in considerable changes in policy. The Labour Government policy of course is aimed at achieving the best education outcomes possible for all New Zealand children. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: What are the views of rural communities towards the adequacy of the formula for Targeted Funding for Isolation for rural schools and can the Minister explain how the Government has taken regard of these views? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: It has been my observation and experience from responses to the changes that those who gain from the changes think they are good and those who lose from the changes think they are not very good. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: Why does the Minister not respect the views of rural communities in New Zealand as his counterparts have in the state Governments of Tasmania Victoria New South Wales South Australia and Western Australia which have listened to their rural communities and extended the moratoria on GE crops by 3 years? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I have already answered the member’s question on genetic modification but I assure him that the overwhelming weight of evidence given by representatives of rural communities to the Government through all the sources and routes available to them has been in support of the careful proceeding with genetic modification technology.