increase font size
A national water strategy and water storage top the election manifesto of Irrigation NZ.
A national water strategy and water storage facilities top the wish list of the country’s 3500 irrigators.
Releasing its 2020 election manifesto last week, Irrigation NZ called for a national water strategy that it says should guide the future of water management and investment.
Irrigation NZ says it wants to be at the table to contribute to this.
It also wants a focus on water storage to ensure communities are resilient to climate change and to assist with land-use change to meet sure carbon targets.
Also on the wish list is a call for policies that support irrigation and the environment through monitoring, farm environment planning, innovation, and adaptation.
It asks that the Government partner with Irrigation NZ to assist because of its “on the ground” expertise.
There is also a call for resolution to Māori rights and interests in freshwater.
Irrigation NZ offers support to iwi, hapū, and whānau groups around access to water and efficient, effective, environmentally-sensitive irrigation development, where appropriate and beneficial.
“Freshwater use in New Zealand involves multiple aspects and is integral to life,” says Elizabeth Soal, chief executive of Irrigation NZ.
“We want to see this precious resource better managed through the development of a water strategy for Aotearoa.
“We are already seeing a focus on freshwater across various policy areas such as the Ministry for Primary Industry’s Fit for a Better World, Ministry for the Environment’s Essential Freshwater policy package and the Department of Internal Affairs ‘Three Waters Reform’ and establishment of the drinking water authority, Taumata Arowai.”
Irrigation NZ believes all these issues could be aligned with a water strategy to guide and lead decision making and funding allocation at the central, regional, and local levels.
This could be led by a bi-partisan, independent water commission.
“As part of this, we would also like to progress a frank conversation with the Government and stakeholders about water storage and irrigation development which does not shy away from both the benefits and the impacts,” says Soal.
“With primary industries the backbone of this country for the foreseeable future, and access to reliable water a critical part of enabling this, we must move forward and ensure the right investment and outcomes from best practice water management.”
Irrigation NZ represents most of the country’s large irrigation schemes and has 3500 members across 800,000 hectares of New Zealand contributing $5.4b of GDP.
Today marks the first day of operations for Waikato Waters, a new council-controlled organisation established by six district councils to deliver water and wastewater services for their communities.
Increased competition for water means the whole community is looking at how irrigators use water.
OPINION: New economic modelling confirms what many of us in Hawke's Bay have long understood - getting water security right for this region is one of the most important decisions we face as a community. Not just for farmers, but for everyone who lives, works and builds a future here.
With six months until the election, Federated Farmers says the Government is running out of time to deliver its long-promised reform to the country's freshwater system.
A drain is sometimes considered a negative word associated with depletion, exhaustion and loss of resources.
Fonterra has reduced its forecast 2026/27 Farmgate Milk Price.
New Zealand dairy farmers are set to be the first in the world to receive access to a new digital physical milk pricing tool that enables them to fix the price for their physical milk.
State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.
A five-year study has found that the cost of reducing emissions without technology may be significant and unsustainable for Northland dairy farmers.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.
While the Government has moved quickly to make commercial hauliers' lot easier during the current fuel crisis, they appear to be stuck in the creep box when it comes to the agricultural industry.
