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It's about land management, not the number of cows.
Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis believes there will always be a place for dairy.
“I keep saying it: it’s not about too many cows, but how the land is managed,” he told Rural News.
Curtis, who is leaving the helm of Irrigation NZ in March, says he knows some “very, very good” dairy farmers with good environmental footprints and some “very, very bad” dairy farmers with horrible footprints – and the same with good and bad cropping farmers.
“So, let’s stop going on about the land use thing because it’s all about land management practices,” says.
“We’ve got a limits regime in place now and the limits regime basically says set the limits at a catchment level.”
Curtis has seen “a lot of fuss” over the dairy development of the Simons Pass Station in the Mackenzie.
“But, having seen that development, they’re retiring an awful lot of that land. And that land’s going to be well-managed; so instead of it being pine-infested, heiracium-infested, rabbit-infested — as much of it is at the moment — they’re going to set aside management funds to restore that properly.”
Irrigation NZ is warning that the government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reform risks falling short of its objectives unless water use for food production and water storage infrastructure are clearly recognised in the goals at the top of the new system.
Winter grazing is looming again and the Ministry for Primary Industries says it's going to increase proactive farm visits and provide practical advice for farmers in the lead up to the season.
Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Vanessa Winning is stepping down after four years in the role.
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:
IrrigationNZ has released its election manifesto, calling for policies that secure water for growing food.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.
Technology and the use of artificial intelligence are increasingly part of life, both on the farm and off it.
Ashleigh Gordon and Leilani Lobb have been named as the two finalists for Dairy Women's Network's (DWN) 2026 Regional Leader of the Year Award.
Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.
North Canterbury farmer Adam Williamson has been appointed DairyNZ's associate director for 2026-27.
Fonterra farmers are set for a multi-billion-dollar payout this week.
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