Defence Lawyers v. MPI Prosecutions
“It does matter who you get your advice from, especially when it's your farm, your animals, and your future at risk"
The Rural Support Trust has networks of local, rural people who get your issues because of there own experience. They've 'been there'.
Ian Robertson is one of those people. He's a unique combination of know-how and insights from his career as a:
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trusted on-farm veterinarian which was his 'first career',
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an ex-prosecutor for MPI, and now
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NZ's specialist animal law defense barrister dealing with a full range of civil, criminal and commercial legal issues involving animals.
He knows the rural sector from giving the professional's advice while pulling on the gumboots and the long gloves, and he understands the realities of how things really work when MPI gets involved.
Rachelle
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​I first met Rachelle and the Rural Support Trust when I had a client who was overwhelmed, trying to make things better but actually making things worse, and at the point where he was seriously looking at dark options just to 'make it stop'. As a team we made it stop, worked through the legal process with him, and thankfully he's still farming today.
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That's the background to saying that me and my team are proud to work alongside trusted organisations like the Rural Support Trust, helping rural people get real world legal advice to safely navigate that the usual mistakes, oversights and 'landmines' that cost money, sleep and sometimes much much more.
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There’s no need for you to try going up against the resources, experience and deep pockets of MPI alone. And getting started sooner rather than later is always good advice.
Ian
We Keep Time Aside for Referrals from the Rural Support Trust
Every week, we reserve appointment time specifically for Rural Support Trust referrals.
That means if you’re calling us through RST, you’re not waiting weeks for answers. You're getting straight to someone who understands the issues and knows how to help.
Resources
There's some practical advice in the download "3 things savvy people do"
And Ian wrote "The Farmer representatives Animal Welfare Toolkit" when he was a prosecutor at MPI and it's still available today.
You can click on the images below to download these useful resources for farmers, stock agents and for all those working in the rural sector.
How do you want to look back on things in 12 months?
What's the best that could happen? What's the worst?
Smart steps taken at the right time are routinely key factors that affect your outcomes in these matters. So, your simplest next step is to either:
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Phone now on 021 165 3117; or
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Simply fill-in and send this contact form.
To help us help you, please briefly tell us:
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Where you are in the country
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Key dates and details about the problem that you're facing; and
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What you would like (and not like) to see as the outcome.
"Bottom line," it doesn’t matter where you are in New Zealand; one way or another, we can help you put your best case forward.