Australian teams to help repair North Canterbury irrigators after storm
Moves are afoot to get a team of Australians over here to help repair North Canterbury's irrigation machinery, ravaged by the big windstorm of late October.
Two long-serving IrrigationNZ board members will stand down at next month's IrrigationNZ AGM.
The board members, Ian McIndoe and Dan Bloomer, have contributed more than 15 years' service to IrrigationNZ.
Bloomer worked as a board member and workshop trainer with IrrigationNZ. He is Principal of Hawke's Bay based Page Bloomer Associates and Director of the Centre for Land and Water in Hastings.
Bloomer helped developed IrrigationNZ's Code of Practice for Irrigation Performance Assessments and resources that support the Irrigation Manager and Operator training workshops.
He has a governance role with Precision Agriculture New Zealand and will continue to be involved with IrrigationNZ in the training space.
IrrigationNZ says McIndoe brought industry expertise to the IrrigationNZ board with his many roles in the irrigation industry, including his current position as Aqualinc's managing director.
McIndoe had a significant input into the development of the IRRICAD irrigation design program and was the primary author of The Irrigation Guide, The Irrigation Manual, and IrrigationNZ's Irrigation Design Code of Practice and Standards.
Joining the board is Keri Johnston, a working engineer, principal of Irricon Resource Solutions and farmer from South Canterbury.
Johnston says she feels it's time for her to contribute more publicly to the debate around how we best manage our water resources.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.
Farmers have voted to continue the Milksolids Levy that funds DairyNZ.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.

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