The Horizons Regional Council has been left stunned by the flak it has copped for investigating investing in the dairy sector.

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon told Country99TV said the council was amazed by the attacks made by the Green Party and other environmentalists after news broke that it was considering buying into dairy farms.

“I couldn’t believe it and I took exception to comments like Mike Joy’s one, the ecologist who said buying a dairy farm is like buying into a drug business, I mean how bizarre is that?”

 Mr Gordon says while the council is still considering whether or not to invest in the dairy industry he says the move would make perfect sense.

“Dairy farming if you think about what it does it provides food and nourishment for the people, what better investment could we be involved in?”

The Green Party had criticised Horizons saying the organisation responsible for policing the environment shouldn’t also be a dairy farmer as it would create a massive conflict of interest.

Mr Gordon responded that council’s frequently police themselves and if the investment did eventuate Horizons could show farmers it would adhere to the region’s environmental standards. 

Mr Gordon says after Horizons sold its $9 million stake in the Ports of Napier it has been looking for solid investments.

He says dairying is just one of many investment options the council’s independent investment arm is looking into.

Mr Gordon says the investment criteria are simple - it must return more than rate at the bank ,and also return capital growth.

“Part of their presentation to us, was well this is what dairying has done over the last 15 years its a good solid investment blah blah blah.

"This is what the Ports of Wellington have done over the last 10 years or whatever, capital growth good rates of return blah blah blah. It looked at commercial buildings and that of wasn’t so good, all these different investments were put up.”