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
Fonterra’s impending exit from the Australian dairy industry is a major event but the story doesn’t change too much for farmers.
Expect greater collaboration between Massey University’s school of Agriculture and Environment and Ireland’s leading agriculture university, the University College of Dublin (UCD), in the future.
A partnership between Torere Macadamias Ltd and the Riddet Institute aims to unlock value from macadamia nuts while growing the next generation of Māori agribusiness researchers.
A new partnership between Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) and NZAgbiz aims to make evidence-based calf rearing practices accessible to all farm teams.
Despite some trying circumstances recently, the cherry season looks set to emerge on top of things.
Changed logos on shirts otherwise it will be business as usual when Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses are expected to change hands next month.

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