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Halfway through the year – impact and gratitude
Nau mai, haere mai to the winter edition of IrrigationNZ News. As hard as it may be to believe, we are nearly halfway through 2023 already.
This column is about gratitude. In recent months, IrrigationNZ has had its attention on some big pieces of regulation that have the potential to impact our sector. The first was the Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms. The IrrigationNZ team is grateful for Anderson Lloyd’s invaluable support in our work on this.
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We claimed eight spots in front of the Environment Select Committee – IrrigationNZ plus seven irrigation schemes. The Environment Select Committee now sifts through over 2,500 written submissions and supplementary documents. We felt it crucial to convey our key concerns and balanced perspectives through verbal submissions, as they may be challenging to fully express in writing alone. To our members who presented their viewpoints so eloquently, thoughtfully, and on point – thank you.
Last month a site visit to mid-Canterbury irrigation schemes and growers was held for officials from the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for Primary Industries. Providing this opportunity was a team effort, and the feedback from those who attended was positive. Key information about irrigation, reliable water, and how they relate to on-farm practices, resilience, and opportunities was taken away from the day. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to share our stories and was very well organised. We thank those who organised and took part.
I am proud of seeing people in our sector work together. The occasions above are just two of many when IrrigationNZ, our members, and our partners have come together, and shown strength in unity, with a focus on solutions. I am grateful that our sector operates with integrity, courage, and respect.
The final thank you is to all of you for your support of IrrigationNZ and the mahi that we do to ensure that the importance of irrigation to our communities and country is recognised. Happy reading!
Vanessa Winning Chief Executive IrrigationNZ
