Labour questions need for government consultation over what chores farm children can do
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Connect Images via AFP
The Labour Party is ridiculing the government's consultation over what chores children can do on family farms, describing it as a solution in search of a problem.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/568325/chores-young-people-can-do-on-a-farm-changing
Brooke van Velden] has announced the start of consultation with the agriculture sector on the rules surrounding children collecting eggs or feeding small animals.
In a statement, van Velden said the government was proposing making it clear that children could safely take part in "light chores" on family farms - but she expected higher-risk activities involving heavy machinery would remain off-limits.
Farmers had told her they wanted the law to recognise that the farm was both their workplace and home, she said.
But Labour's Workplace Relations and Safety spokesperson Jan Tinetti said the government was focusing on a non-existent problem.
"Kids are part of the farm life. I've taught in a rural area [and] it's really important that we encourage the kids to be active in the farm life," she said.
"Parents will... make certain that their kids are safe, it's not something we should be looking into."
Labour's Kieran McAnulty also questioned the rationale and said he "wouldn't have thought" it was an issue.
"It's pretty common knowledge if an egg is covered in poo, you don't lick it. Wash your hands afterwards, what's the problem?" he said.
"This sounds like a similar situation to these kindy kids getting hit in the head by an apple. I don't think either of those scenarios have ever been raised with anyone."
National ministers, questioned about the announcement on Monday morning, also seemed somewhat bemused by the announcement.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon framed the move in the context of wider consultation on health safety to prevent over-compliance.
Northland MP Grant McCallum said he suspected most farmers would not have considered the issue to be a problem but encouraged farmers who felt differently to get in contact with his party's rural caucus.
"The thought that farmers can't take their kids out into the farm and help them with chores is just ridiculous."
Chris Bishop said he doubted the government would be regulating the collection of eggs and watering plants: "I can't say I've ever collected an egg from a hen house myself. I'm an urban boy, but you never rule anything out - all sorts of things happen in this job."
Tama Potaka told reporters many kids enjoyed collecting eggs, particularly with their "nanny and koro".
"I suggest that when they do that, they make sure they don't get clucked or plucked," Potaka said.
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