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High country farming - Source: ONE News -
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Almost 90% of farmers want to stay out of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) while nearly 50% of Kiwis want them included.
The ShapeNZ survey commissioned by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development (NZBCSD) found that 67% of farm workers also want farmers included.
Farming is the biggest emitter of carbon in New Zealand.
The ETS was created under the Labour-led government but was suspended by the new National government who said the scheme was expensive and ambitious.
The scheme is currently being reviewed by a parliamentary select committee.
The ShapeNZ survey found that if agriculture is kept in the scheme, 31% of New Zealanders think farmers should receive no free taxpayer emissions assistance at all.
This contrasts with 40% of farmers who believe taxpayers should pay 80-09% of the sector's excess emissions during the scheme's fist four years.
At the moment the law provides for 90% assistance for emissions above 2005 levels for four years from 2013, phasing out at 8% per year after that.
Only 1% of farmers do not want any taxpayer help.
Of those people surveyed, business people and professionals in particular want agriculture to play its part in reducing emissions and paying for excess emissions.
NZBCSD chief executive Peter Neilson says the results show New Zealanders believe agriculture should play its part in cutting emissions.
"There's clearly a divide between farmers and the rest of the country. Business people obviously know if agriculture pays less, their sectors or the taxpayer has to pick up the bill," he says.
Nielson says New Zealanders all need to reduce emissions but agriculture needed a 'carbon price signal' and incentives to reduce emissions while being helped to adjust.
He says cutting emissions would also help New Zealand retain
market access and carbon-content competitiveness.
