increase font size
Outgoing Irrigation NZ chief executive Andrew Curtis.
Ten years at the helm of Irrigation New Zealand is soon to end for chief executive Andrew Curtis; he leaves the post next March.
Curtis has seen 10 years of change, a time when irrigation technology and efficiency have progressed in leaps and bounds, yet irrigation has been pilloried in some quarters as the enabler of environmental degradation.
No surprise that British-born Curtis claims solid environmental credentials: his degree and post-graduate studies were in environmental and conservation management.
He worked for wildlife trusts before becoming an estate manager in southwest England for a “very very green” woman keen on sustainability, wind generation and habitat restoration. Her husband “didn’t want to do anything unless it made money”.
“That role set me up with my love of farming,” Curtis says.
Do New Zealand greenies hate irrigation? we ask him.
“They do and they don’t. Some of them aren’t as well informed as they could be,” says Curtis.
“Don’t get me wrong: irrigation in certain places is not a good thing. That’s where we’ve probably pushed the boat a little bit too far.
“Some places you really shouldn’t irrigate because it intensifies land use and the environment can’t cope with it in those places. But in other places irrigation is great; it will benefit the environmental footprint.
“What we’ve failed to do, to date, is recognise environments where irrigation which leads to certain land uses probably is not a good thing unless it’s done in certain ways.”
Curtis and his wife Josie came to New Zealand in 2000, initially on working holiday visas to pick fruit.
Curtis then joined the Hawkes Bay Regional Council, working with farmers on irrigation, wind erosion and soil health, before moving into strategy, including early planning for the Ruataniwha Dam.
Curtis was “touched on the shoulder” by Irrigation NZ in 2009, which necessitated moving the family to Canterbury.
“Water is important in Hawkes Bay, but the scale of water use in Canterbury is second to none in New Zealand.”
They now live with daughter Holly (14) and son George (7) on a 4ha block at Kirwee, where he runs a small herd of Belted Galloways, mostly to sell calves to lifestylers.
“But the meat’s very good on them; we usually kill one a year. The meat off them is much better than your bog-standard stuff.”
Curtis has seen huge changes since he started with Irrigation NZ 10 years ago.
IrrigationNZ submitted a briefing last month to the new Government this week on how water capture, storage, and efficient use can grow economic prosperity, support New Zealand's exports, and ensure long term regional resilience. Here's part of what Vanessa Winning, chief executive of IrrigationNZ, said:
Most vineyards require irrigation at some point. Deciding when and how much is required is a powerful management tool that directly affects fruit production, disease pressure, and even operational passes.
IrrigationNZ has released its election manifesto, calling for policies that secure water for growing food.
The first two bills in the RMA reform package simply are not good enough.
A wetter than usual irrigation season has hindered data collection efforts for Canterbury dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
