A History of Federated Farmers

Abstract

Pressure groups occupy a most important place in the New Zealand political process, for in the period between elections it is largely the groups to whom the government turns for opinions and guidance on issues. Federated Farmers is one of the more prominent of these groups, representing as it does the country's most vital economic section. Consequently the Federation has become inextricably involved in governmental policymaking and, in common with a number of major organizations, has assumed semi-institutional status. The implications of this involvement are many, and therefore the purpose of this thesis goes beyond the mere chronicling of events. Once accepted by government as the legitimate spokesman for a large group in the community, an organization must demonstrate a constant ability to adapt to an ever-changing political environment. The need to influence the government will always determine the actions of the group, and Federated Farmers is today very much a product of the political system. As the ultimate decision-maker the government is able to dictate the terms upon which policy is to be made, and the groups must adjust accordingly. The history of Federated Farmers confirms this generalization, for its activities throughout the past thirty years have truly reflected the environment in which the Federation has operated. Such diverse topics as taxation, rural transport and import controls - all important areas of concern to New Zealand farmers - have been given remarkably similar treatment by the Federation when it comes to representations to government. The range of alternatives for group action remain limited, with minor variations as years go by. Certain periods, such as the mid 1960's, are characterized by government arbitrariness, but these are really only matters of degree. In essence since World War II the New Zealand political process and its rules have remained quite stable. As a result Federated Farmers has also not greatly altered its style of action. Yet there is little doubt that it should have attempted to do so, for with lack of innovation comes predictability, and an element of surprise can be a good weapon in politics. The history of a pressure group is also a history of the system within which it has operated, and so the thesis will also attempt to give an outline of the various changes occurring to the policy process in the last thirty years. Hopefully the development of both process and group will be shown to coincide.