NZ First, not Greens, did over the farmers
Stuff reports:
Climate Change Minister James Shaw considered taking the controversial methane target out of the Zero Carbon Bill and allowing it to be set by a commission, but NZ First would not support such a move.
The National Party pushed very hard for the methane reduction target to be removed from the Zero Carbon Bill, which it eventually voted to support anyway.
Methane is the main greenhouse gas emission from agriculture, and makes up roughly half of the warming that New Zealand’s emissions contribute to global climate change, primarily from livestock belching.
The target – a 10 per cent reduction on 2017 levels by 2030 and between 24 and 47 per cent reduction by 2050 – has been vehemently opposed by farmers.
So Shaw was willing to compromise on it, but Winston refused as he didn’t want to give National a win. So Winston prioritised sticking it to National, over the farmers of New Zealand.