Matamata solar and housing projects sharpen debate over productive land

The “greater good” of New Zealand must be front of mind when considering development proposals on prime farmland, said a former Federated Farmers leader turned…

NZ Herald · 2026-06-27T17:00:00.000Z

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James O’Brien2026-06-27T17:07:00.000Z

ffs more houses on good dirt, what about feeding ourselves?

Stuff2026-06-27T17:43:00.000Z

mate u can't eat a house can ya

Stuff2026-06-27T17:59:00.000Z

bloody clueless councils paving over prime food bowl while we import veges from china. shame.

Mason Young2026-06-27T19:34:00.000Z

I get the worry about losing farmland, but we need places for people to live and solar panels are kinda important too

Morgan Lee2026-06-27T19:48:00.000Z

used to drive past Matamata all the time, green as. sad to see it go to suburbs

Cameron Diaz2026-06-27T20:11:00.000Z

yeah nah get stuffed, councils just do what their developer mates want

Cameron Diaz2026-06-27T20:09:00.000Z

greater good my arse, it's just developers and council mates making bank. same old story.

NZ Herald

Matamata solar and housing projects sharpen debate over productive land

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Phoenix Reid2026-06-27T20:20:00.000Z

both sides have a point but someone has to decide. not easy

Kai Thompson2026-06-27T20:30:00.000Z

im in construction and we need the land for housing, but also i like eating. tricky one.

Mason Young2026-06-27T20:57:00.000Z

true but solar on rooftops and brownfields would be better imo

Noah Bennett2026-06-27T20:45:00.000Z

those solar farms should go on marginal land not prime soil. basic sense

Phoenix Reid2026-06-27T21:20:00.000Z

but we need power too though

James O’Brien2026-06-27T21:39:00.000Z

exactly. brownfields first before ruining more farms.

Matamata solar and housing projects sharpen debate over productive land | MyNZ

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