Environment Canterbury urges buyers to check wastewater systems on rural properties
Buying or building a rural or semi-rural property? Make sure you know where the wastewater goes, says Environment Canterbury.
Priority access to water heads the NZ Plant Producers (NZPP) election manifesto released today.
The peak industry body for plant producers and their industry partners represents more than 100 plant producers and businesses in New Zealand.
The organisation produces plants for a diverse range of purposes, including food for local eating and exports, regenerating New Zealand’s forests, and urban and domestic planting.
The first point in NZPP’s election manifesto is guaranteeing priority access to water for plant producers.
“Primary industries rely on our production, and many families need our plants for food and wellbeing. Access to water is critical to Government plans for more horticulture, forests, and greener living spaces,” it says in the manifesto.
“We support DairyNZ, NZ Beef & Lamb and Horticulture New Zealand’s request for, and assessment of, New Zealand’s water infrastructure and investment in viable water capture and storage.”
NZPP wants an independent assessment of New Zealand’s water infrastructure to ensure it is able to fulfil future needs and to identify regions at risk of water shortages.
“A National Water Strategy, backed by credible investment, is needed to guarantee a reliable supply of water,” it says.
NZPP’s eight points are:
1. Plant producers must get priority access to water
2. New Zealand needs access to the World’s best plant varieties
3. The RSE scheme must be expanded with access to key workers from overseas
4. The Review of Vocational Education must be prioritised
5. Regulation and legislation must be reviewed and rationalised
6. Biosecurity must be strengthened and supported
7. Investment in planting must be targeted at our most efficient producers
8. New Zealanders deserve more green spaces in our urban areas
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While things are looking positive for the red meat sector in 2026, volatility in global trade remains a concern, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The quest to find innovative practical, scientific solutions to deal with water-related issues at a catchment level has been the theme of an important conference at Massey University last week.
One of the country's top Māori farms faces a long and costly rebuild to get the property back to where it was before recent storms ripped through it.
The latest Global Dairy Trade auction results have delivered a boost to dairy farmers.
New Zealand potato growers are prioritising value creation from high yields to meet a complex mix of challenges and opportunities, says Potatoes NZ chief executive Kate Trufitt.

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