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John Key - Source: ONE News -
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Farmers may have to fork out an extra $3000 a year in pollution taxes by the year 2030.
Prime Minister John Key says the agricultural sector must pay its share under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
But farmers are not happy and neither are National's political opponents.
Despite agriculture being the country's biggest polluter, farmers say they are being stung for more than their fair share.
"Don't think farmers are getting a free ride here," says Don Nicholson president of Federated Farmers.
"Nothing in that figure ($3000) even runs true with anything we have been told by anyone else."
They are calling on the government to dump the Emissions Scheme.
But the message from the top is real - farmers have to get real about coughing up.
"The average cost is $3000 on a farm in 2030, that is a long way away. It's not going to cripple a farm," says Key.
However, Nicholson says $3000 is a big deal.
"Three thousand dollars right now would mean the sheep and beef farmers of New Zealand in drought Hawkes Bay would have $3000 on their red bottom line," he says.
Key is also coming under pressure from opposition, who are accusing him of giving the Maori Party a sweet deal in return for its support for the ETS.
Labour leader Phil Goff says iwi foresters are getting preferential treatment under the scheme.
