Extending an olive branch

An Omarama farmer whose pivot irrigators were vandalised, in an attack he suggested involved environmental activists, has invited environmental groups over for tea.

Richard Subtil has said he believes environmental activists were behind the slashing of 44 tyres on three of his pivot irrigators earlier this month.

The damage is estimated to have cost up to $40,000.

While the Oamaru police investigate the vandalism, Omarama Station owners Mr Subtil and wife Annabelle have decided to invite environmentalist groups and leaders to their station to share information about irrigation and other environmentally sensitive activities.

Mr Subtil issued the invitation through media last week and has since received one response, from Mike Joy, a senior lecturer in ecology from Massey University.

He hoped the invitation would ``establish a degree of mutual trust that can become a springboard for better understanding on both sides.''

``We've got a widening gap between town and country ... and farmers and environmentalists. We feel the best way we can bridge that gap is to engage, rather than distance each other and throw rocks at each other.''

In an attached press release, he said he had been mulling over the incident, which at first made him angry. He could now see some good could come from it, via constructive dialogue with critics of irrigation and other farm practices.

``I'm trying to get beyond the negative, knee-jerk reaction thing.''

He did not know who would take up his invitation, but hoped environmental lobby groups, such as Greenpeace, SAFE and the Green Party, would be interested.

``Who knows what will come of it but I want to be able to say we tried.''

No date for a meeting was set, but he hoped it would be chaired by someone independent of farming interests and that all opinions would be aired.

Mr Subtil saw himself as an environmentalist and said many farmers worked hard to do what they could for their environment, but he acknowledged there were farmers who let others down.

``We firmly believe the future of farming for New Zealand is going to be about growing environmental stewardship.

``There might be 50% of issues that farmers and [environmental campaigners] can totally agree on. So let's get discussing the other 50% to see what headway we can make.''

Mr Subtil said he hoped to hear back from more groups.

shannon.gillies@odt.co.nz