Waikato dairy effluent breaches lead to $108,000 in fines
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
The Waikato Regional Council says grants of up to more than $750,000 from the Waikato River Authority for environmental projects are a sign of the solid partnership between the two agencies.
“The eight projects involving the council that are being funded in the authority’s latest round will help us make a real difference,” says council chief executive Vaughan Payne.
“I thank the authority for their financial support and the close collaboration we have developed to protect the environment.”
The grants for projects involving the council were part of a total $4.4 million in funding announcements for 40 projects overall.
A maximum of $300,000 will go the council for investigating ways to protect and restore the Whangamarino wetland.
Nearly $118,000 will be available for an important project looking at ways to effect land use change in the Upper Waipa River catchment.
More than $88,000 is available for a planting project at Lake Whangape and $87,000 for Lake Waahi wetland restoration.
Another $63,000 will go towards Okohua Stream riparian restoration, $57,000 is for restoring the Moanatuatua peat bog and $32,500 is available for restoration of Lake Waikare’s northern foreshore.
Finally $8000 will go to the council in partnership with police to remove car bodies and waste from the Waikato River and Lake Karapiro.
“This is a great continuation of investment in cleaning up the Waikato and Waipa rivers. The Healthy Rivers Wai Ora plan change will help protect this ongoing investment.”
Greenlea Premier Meats managing director Anthony (Tony) Egan says receiving the officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) honour has been humbling.
Waikato dairy farmer Neil Bateup, made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the New Year 2026 Honours list, says he’s grateful for the award.
Another Australian state has given the green light to virtual fencing, opening another market for Kiwi company Halter.
Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.
Applications are now open for the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards, set to be held at Parliament on 23 July.
Ravensdown has announced a collaboration with Kiwi icon, Footrot Flats in an effort to bring humour, heart, and connection to the forefront of the farming sector.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…