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RURAL CONTRACTORS New Zealand (RCNZ) says it endorses recent warnings by Waikato Regional Council (WRC) that agrichemical contractors operating without certification are breaching regulations.
Chief executive Roger Parton says RCNZ shares the concerns of WRC and other regional councils about unqualified and/or unregistered chemical applicators not been properly trained or qualified to spray agrichemicals.
“RCNZ has a chemical applicator accreditation programme to meet the needs of our members and the industry.”
Parton says the application of agrichemicals has to be done in a competent and professional manner to ensure the enhancement of the crop and the safety of the operator, the environment and the public.
There are two levels of agrichemical applicator accreditation available through Rural Contractors New Zealand: basic chemical applicator and registered chemical applicator.
“Rural Contractors New Zealand has a strict policy in regards to any person applying agrichemicals in a public place or on private property for hire and reward,” Parton says.
“He or she has either got to be the holder of a registered chemical applicator accreditation or have a basic chemical applicator (or equivalent) accreditation and be operating under the immediate and direct supervision of the holder of a registered chemical applicator accreditation.”
Parton says all agrichemical contractors accredited through RCNZ carry wallet cards to prove their accreditation.
RCNZ supports rules requiring that neighbours be notified before any spraying takes place. “However, spraying can only take place when weather conditions are
suitable and sometimes this does not permit the notification timeframes required in the rules,” he says.
South Waikato farmer David Christensen was convicted and fined $56,000 for two unlawful discharges of dairy effluent following a prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council. The fine was imposed by Judge Melinda Dickey from the Huntly District Court after Christensen plead guilty to two charges under the Resource Management Act.
A contract milker and a dairy farm owner have been convicted and fined a combined $66,500 for the unlawful discharge of dairy shed effluent and stockfeed leachate into the environment.
The Environment Court has directed Waikato Regional Council to make 20 specific changes to finalise a landmark plan to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā rivers.
A Waihi dairy farmer, Keith Torrens, has been convicted and fined $39,000 for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent following a prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council.
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today congratulated the winners of the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards at Fieldays.
The Government has announced $60,000 to provide one-off grants of $1,000 to each of the 60 New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) clubs across the country.
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
There has been another twist to the Federated Farmers annual election fiasco.
Analysis of decades of research has revealed the implementation of good farming practices plays a critical role in reducing nutrient losses to improve freshwater outcomes.
Yesterday the Government used the opening of Fieldays to announce a major investment, as part of its Land Use Flexibility package, to support a more productive and sustainable future across six sectors including dairy.
