increase font size
IrrigationNZ chief executive Elizabeth Soal.
IrrigationNZ wants the prioritisation of water storage in Northland extended to other dry regions.
The Government this week announced it is investing a further $37.5 million into water security for Northland (read more here).
The additional funding from the Provincial Growth Fund will be used to accelerate and expand the delivery of the Northland water storage programme as part of the Government’s COVID-19 response.
IrrigationNZ says it is pleased to see Northland’s water storage being prioritised, however, other dry regions such as Hawke's Bay need similar measures.
IrrigationNZ chief executive Elizabeth Soal says accelerating the Northland water storage project would create jobs and stability following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and is a great stimulus for economic development.
“This could be replicated in other areas throughout New Zealand, and with the right environmental and planning frameworks in place, will lead to shared benefits for Iwi, the environment, the community, and the farmer,” says Soal.
“While this announcement on water storage by the Government is positive, IrrigationNZ would welcome a water strategy to guide this critical infrastructure investment into the future.”
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.
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.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says access to reliable irrigation water is essential for a thriving horticultural sector.
A 100-year-old Canadian irrigation district has taken inspiration from Canterbury irrigation company Central Plains Water's success in converting from an open race irrigation system to a gravity-fed piped system.
Effluent is a valuable source of nutrients.
With arable farmers heading into the busy planting season, increasing fuel and fertiliser prices, driven by the Iranian conflict, are a daily and ongoing concern.
OPINION: After two long years of hardship, things are looking up for New Zealand red meat farmers.
A casualty of the storm that hit the Bay of Plenty recently was the cancelation of a field day at a leading Māori kiwifruit orchard at Te Puke.
Michael Wentworth has joined the team at Mission Estate Winery, filling the "big shoes" of former Chief Executive Peter Holley, who resigned in September last year, after almost 30 years running the storied Napier venue.
Some arable farmers are getting out of arable and converting to dairy in the faced of soaring fuel and fertiliser prices on top of a very poor growing season.
The New Zealand seed industry has reached a significant milestone with the completion and approval of the new seed certification system.
OPINION: If you ask this old mutt, the choice at the next election isn't shaping up as a contest of…
OPINION: A mate of yours says we're long overdue for a reckoning on what value farmers really get for the…
