increase font size
IrrigationNZ chief executive Andrew Curtis.
Irrigators say they are looking forward to continuing to develop a constructive and productive working relationship with the new government.
IrrigationNZ chief executive Andrew Curtis congratulated Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern and the new government.
He noted that speaking to media this morning Ardern wouldn’t confirm the details of the coalition agreement but stated that NZ First leader Winston Peters had been very firm in his opposition to the water tax.
“Irrigation is essential for the production of many foods and helps keep food affordable. Investment in irrigation infrastructure improves our resilience by helping protect New Zealanders from drought related food shortages and food price spikes,” says Curtis.
“As proposed a water tax would not be an effective way to improve rivers as the regions with the least swimmable rivers – Auckland, Northland and Waikato would receive minimal funding as they have little irrigation.”
‘IrrigationNZ carried out a survey of 120 irrigators which found that a water tax could have many unintended consequences including reducing investment in more modern irrigation equipment and systems that manage water more efficiently and reducing spending in rural communities.
Curtis says that farmers and growers around New Zealand are already investing in actions which will improve river water quality in the future – including fencing 26,000km of waterways, carrying out riparian planting and developing farm environment plans to address any issues on their property.
“Improvements to rivers will be achieved by actions taken on farms along with local communities working together with access to robust science to help them understand the issues, and find innovative solutions to specific local issues.”
OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.
Labour's agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says while New Zealand needs more housing, sacrificing our best farmland to get there is not the answer.
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.
Labour's agriculture spokesperson says the Government’s decisions are set to hamstring growth within the farming sector.
Rural Women New Zealand’s (RWNZ) new president, Sandra Matthews, says the cancellation of rural school bus services could have devastating consequences.
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
