Southland arable farmer Blair Drysdale says none of the major parties have policy that will lift the rural sector, other than ACT, while Labour and National stick to the status quo.

“There’s nothing from any party that’s going to set the rural landscape of New Zealand on fire,” Drysdale says.

He says Labour is “very much status quo” and so is National, while ACT offers “a glimmer of hope for rural policy.”

He says a policy to break up the supermarkets would squeeze growers and other suppliers, since retailers and the rest of the supply chain would protect their own margins.

He says rising costs for fuel, groceries, electricity and rates may be becoming permanent.

“I’d hate to think it’s a new norm.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.

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