increase font size
Andrew McGiven.
The discovery of a Waikato stream running green with effluent has the council urging farmers to ask for advice on effluent management.
Waikato Federated Farmers president Andrew McGiven says council staff “are willing to listen and provide advice and this is a resource that I wish more farmers would use”.
He was responding to a council report of a stream running green with effluent from two separate sources on an Otorohanga dairy farm.
“The council is concerned that one of the discharges to the stream appears to be ongoing and deliberate,” says investigations manager Patrick Lynch.
The contamination was found in the stream west of Otorohanga two weeks ago after a tip-off.
“We do not usually report this kind of incident until after it has been through a court process,” says Lynch.
“However, what we found this time is of real concern. We have many farmers doing the right thing by the environment in our region but some don’t seem to care.”
McGiven was notified by the council last week.
“I am extremely disappointed and frustrated by this farmer’s actions which have brought the dairy industry into disrepute, especially now that we are under so much scrutiny with the election around the corner,” he told Dairy News.
“Waikato Federated Farmers does not condone or tolerate this type of behavior.
“I can only hope the actions of these few laggards do not tarnish or subvert the achievements of the many thousands of farmers making their farms more environmentally friendly and sustainable every day.
“Though these individual actions are upsetting, overall the dairy industry is making great progress and if regulation and prosecution don’t force these people from our industry then peer pressure will if they don’t improve their systems.”
Lynch applauds the person who gave the council good intelligence about the pollution.
“This person had noted that a stream that normally runs clear was running green over several days, particularly early in the morning. Our incident response team on Friday morning were at the stream at first light. They observed the pollution in the stream and tracked it back some distance to its source.
“We will launch a formal investigation and it is likely enforcement action will follow.”
A rare weather double-whammy has seen many South Island farmers having to deal with unseasonal snow while still cut off from power supplies after an unprecedented windstorm.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Going one better than a frustratingly close second place finish at last year's event, the country's top axeman, Jack Jordan of Taumaranui, last weekend won the Stihl Timbersports World Championship individual event in.
Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president Brent Chamberlain says a big development for this year is the Wool Zone, first introduced two years ago as a showplace for everything produced from wool, but now greatly enlarged with its own Wool Marquee and more than 30 trade sites.
Salmonellosis is a serious disease in cattle.
Drench resistance is already hitting farm profits; it's not just a future problem.
Engaging, thought provoking speakers, relevant seminars and relatable topics alongside innovative produces and services are the order of the day at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Farm supplies trader Ruralco has recovered from two consecutive years of losses to post a $1.25 million profit for the 2025 financial year.
