IrrigationNZ News Spring 2023

2023 ELECTION SPECIAL – IrrigationNZ’s Election Manifesto & Freshwater Policy and Management from NZ Political Parties

Mid Canterbury’s Water Monitoring Programme

Taking steps to support land management

REGULAR FEATURES

4 FROM THE CHAIR / Keri Johnston

5 FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE / Vanessa Winning

6 OUT & ABOUT

18 VIEW FROM HERE / Hon Damien O’Connor

20 VIEW FROM THERE / Sue Hinton, Tasmanian Drought Resilience and Adoption Hub

28 TECHNICAL MATTERS

39 DID YOU KNOW? / Community water supply scheme

40 SEASONAL CLIMATE OUTLOOK

2023 ELECTION SPECIAL

9 IrrigationNZ 2023 Election Manifesto

14 Freshwater policy and management from NZ political parties

FEATURES

23 COVER STORY / Mid Canterbury water sampling

25 Community irrigation scheme using solar power

32 NICOLE SCHON / Soil health

34 JULIE BRADSHAW / Using genomic data

35 ROSCOE TAGGART / Precision agriculture

36 TRAINING / Certificate III in Irrigation Technology

38 Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Cadetships programme

42 DR ANTHONY DAVOREN / In memoriam

EDITOR Ella Stokes / 027 208 6371 / estokes@irrigationnz.co.nz ADVERTISING, ADMIN & SUBSCRIPTIONS admin@irrigationnz.co.nz

PUBLISHED BY Irrigation New Zealand / PO Box 8014, Wellington 6143 DESIGN Rosie Fenton DISTRIBUTION New Zealand Post PRINTING Caxton COVER PHOTO Ella Stokes ISSN 2230-5181

Please email estokes@irrigationnz.co.nz if the delivery address/information where this magazine has been received is incorrect or needs updated.

IrrigationNZ News is published by Irrigation New Zealand Inc (IrrigationNZ) four times a year. The circulation includes all IrrigationNZ members. The opinions expressed in IrrigationNZ News do not necessarily reflect the views of IrrigationNZ. The information contained in this publication is general in nature with every effort being made to ensure its complete accuracy. No responsibility can be accepted for any errors or copyright breach that may occur beyond the control of the editor or IrrigationNZ. Permission must be sought from the Editor prior to reproduction of any material contained in this publication.

www.irrigationnz.co.nz

Keri Johnston Chair of IrrigationNZ

Prepare for an El Niño summer

Tēnā koutou,

It seems rather surreal to already be writing the Chair’s column for the spring magazine. The year is just flying by, and before we know it October will be here and it will be election time.

The lead-up to this election has been interesting. We produced an election manifesto which sets out what IrrigationNZ would like to see from any incoming government. Feedback on our manifesto has been awesome, with comments telling us it is rational while also speaking to the heart, and that it is a balanced document which tells a great story. My sincere gratitude to Ruth, Jared, and Emma, the team who worked with Vanessa and I to pull this together.

We have had the Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms pushed through, despite not having bipartisan support. IrrigationNZ led a combined food and fibre sector response to the Government and other parties on this, and we will continue to do so as the reforms shake down and other pieces of

legislation come into play. He Waka Eke Noa is essentially on hold, with the required time simply diminishing before the sitting days come to a close.

We will have a new government in October. Based on current polling, it is hard to see what this new government will look like, but we understand it may look very different from what we have now. IrrigationNZ prides itself on having strong relationships with all political parties, and

therefore we are in a good position to continue to advocate for our membership regardless of the election outcome.

It looks like we are heading into strong El Niño weather patterns for the summer. This can lead to increased water demand, but with pressure on water supplies which cause periods of more frequent and longer restrictions.

Be prepared by making sure that:

• irrigation equipment is in good order with repairs and maintenance completed

• irrigation scheduling tools are calibrated and functioning well

• flow meters are working and recording accurately

• there is a plan in place to manage restrictions.

That’s it from me. I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our AGM in Ashburton in November.

Ngā mihi nui, Keri

IrrigationNZ’s AGM will be held on Thursday 30 November 2023 at Hotel Ashburton, 11–25 Racecourse Road, Ashburton

AGM begins from 4pm. All members are welcome. Please join us as we celebrate another busy year. Drinks and nibbles will be available at the event with time afterwards for networking.

IrrigationNZ prides itself on having strong relationships with all political parties, and therefore, we are in a good position to continue to advocate for our membership regardless of the election outcome.

Vanessa Winning Chief Executive IrrigationNZ

Make your vote count

It is incredible how quickly the year so far has whizzed by, as it is time for our spring edition and getting ready for irrigation season. It is a difficult year weather-wise, where there is a lot of residual water around, especially in the north. This demonstrates the need for well planned strategic investment in infrastructure that can mitigate floods, store water, and assist us through droughts. This year has clearly shown the need for a long-term adaptation strategy that harnesses our natural resources and enables them to support ongoing food production. Any solution must consider the impact on the environment by not taking water when the water bodies most need it, as well as releasing it when it is in abundance. We need the solution to create more space for plant growing, and support access to places which would benefit from better water access, such as underdeveloped iwi land and townships that currently have few options. When we can grow the pool of users and increase the diversity of land use across farming types, the New Zealand market can be more sustainable and resilient when commodity prices move, or we have international shocks such as pandemic or war.

There is enough water for all. We need to invest wisely to ensure it is used judiciously, and to ensure our water bodies are well-supported.

With the election just around the corner, we are pleased to present a wide range of political views on water and its use in the growing of food and fibre in New Zealand. Check out the election special in this quarter’s magazine, and consider the policies from across the political spectrum. At IrrigationNZ we are politically neutral, we acknowledge all the opinions we receive, and we try to find shared values and areas in which we can work together. This has been our focus for the last three years, and we will keep that mindset in the next political cycle, no matter who gains power on 14 October.

As water users, we have a duty to do the right thing for our land, environment, people, and the water bodies we rely on. Our members are brilliant examples of water users doing it right. To maintain our social licence, and ensure ongoing investment in infrastructure and much-needed capture and storage solutions, we need to continue to demonstrate that commitment and be willing to listen to interested parties’ views and thoughts on what could be improved. We may not always agree, and we may have different views on how we achieve things, but more often than not we are trying to achieve similar outcomes, including improving our impact for the generations to come. New Zealand is behind in some of these conversations because water is so abundant. Complacency around capture and storage for productive use, drinking water, and localised hydro is going to hold us back.

IrrigationNZ has made submissions on a raft of legislation over this past election cycle, and we have made some gains around practical implementation. We will continue to work through what the new legislation, such as the Natural and Built Environment Act, will allow for water. We have seen some improvements in the changes that have come through recently, but, as always, the details are what matter.

With this in mind, I hope that no matter your political leanings you will find the included views helpful in giving you an informed opinion leading into the election. It’s been a difficult and uncertain year for our farmers and growers, and voting is one way of taking some control.

IrrigationNZ: Out & About Stephen McNally goes back to Uni

An invitation was extended by Professor Craig Bunt for IrrigationNZ to address students undertaking studies in agricultural systems at Otago University. IrrigationNZ Principal Technical Advisor Stephen McNally spoke on a wide range of topics related to New Zealand’s irrigated land use in a global food supply chain. This included the challenges faced by our food producers within a regulatory environment and the need for our infrastructure to meet climate change adaptation.

IrrigationNZ supports Young Plant Producer of the Year competition

IrrigationNZ together with WaterForce Christchurch provided the irrigation practical and theory challenge base for this year’s competition.

The future of the plant production industry is in excellent hands as shown by the talent of this year’s Young Plant Producer finalists. Lydia O’Dowd of Southern Woods Nursery in Rolleston was named the 2023 Young Plant Producer at an awards dinner in Christchurch during which the five finalists completed their final challenge: a speech about involvement versus commitment. The five finalists undertook two days of challenges at Lincoln University where they were tested on their skills in finance and dispatch, biosecurity, plant propagation and identification, tool maintenance, agrichemical use, and irrigation. The judges looked for individuals who could make a difference in the industry, looking beyond just great skills but also at leadership, attitude, and personality.

Wairarapa Water Users Society Forum

Wairarapa Water Users Society, NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management (NZIPIM), and IrrigationNZ hosted over 40 participants at a water security forum held in Martinborough in June. The forum focused on policies, planning information, and engineering aspects of building farm scale water storage.

IrrigationNZ board visits Waimea Community Dam

In August the board of IrrigationNZ was hosted by the board and staff of Waimea Water, who manage the Waimea Community Dam’s development, construction and operation. Both parties seized upon this opportunity to share information. The knowledge exchange included the lessons and benefits of the water capture and storage infrastructure build, and how IrrigationNZ is representing these issues as opportunities to government agencies as they grapple with freshwater policies.

IrrigationNZ 2023 Election Manifesto

The following pages are extracted from the IrrigationNZ 2023 Election Manifesto. To download and share the document, head to our website at www.irrigationnz.co.nz

2023 Election Manifesto

While meat and dairy account for about 80% of our food exports, the vast majority of other food produced in New Zealand is consumed in New Zealand. We import about 20% of our food.

Irrigation is a key component for growing food. The more reliable the supply of water, the more cost effective growing is. This leads to better prices in the supermarket.

To ensure New Zealanders can access fresh New Zealand-grown food at a reasonable price the Government must take a strategic view of water and have enabling policies in place.

New Zealand has the opportunity to be a world leader in water management – for well­being, the environment, resilience, self­sufficiency, to support trade, and for climate change mitigation and adaptation techniques.

• Reliable and available freshwater is key to growing food for New Zealanders.

• Fresh locally-grown food is a right all New Zealanders should be able to expect. Keeping food affordable in New Zealand requires water availability, and policies that enable food production.

• Reliable access to water for growing food is currently hindered by restrictive policy and a lack of investment and support.

• Up to 90% of fruit and vegetables grown in New Zealand rely on irrigation, whereas less than 20% of animal agriculture is supported by irrigation.

• Irrigation uses a tiny amount of New Zealand’s freshwater.

• 80% of applied irrigation water evaporates from plant leaves to become cloud and fall as rain.

New Zealand produces some of the most nutritious, delicious, and sought after food in the world.

Water for food

Irrigation is important, and often essential, for growing healthy food in New Zealand.

As much as 90% of our fruit and vegetables rely on irrigation to grow, including the majority of wine and beer ingredients. About 26% of New Zealand’s milk-based products rely on irrigation, as does 10% of our meat production.

To grow all of this food we use only 5.4% of farmland and less than 5% of annual freshwater. Interestingly, the total irrigated land area for dairy has decreased when most recently measured from 2017 to 2019.

While meat and dairy account for about 80% of our food exports, the vast majority of other food grown here is consumed here. We supplement this by importing about 20% of our food, in particular fruit and vegetables.

This year New Zealanders have faced huge increases in the price of food, particularly in fresh fruit and vegetables, which are up 22%.

We need to ensure that we can grow healthy and tasty food locally, at prices everyone can afford. This requires reliable access to water at the right times in the growing cycle of plants, whether it be for growing vegetables, grains, or grass to feed livestock.

In New Zealand it does not always rain at the desired time in the growing cycle. Rainfall is becoming more and more erratic due to

Water for all

Reliable stored water has many benefits beyond growing food. Water security enables a variety of other positives, including:

• production of green electricity

• providing communities with drinking water

• allowing businesses and industry to run and to plan for the future, both of which enable local employment

• farmers reducing their emissions by changing their land use via irrigation

• creating opportunities for inclusive economic development by unlocking the potential of iwi-Māori-owned land which has not had access to water

• maintaining river health, ecology, and biodiversity, and the recreational and cultural values of rivers by releasing stored water in dry months

changing weather patterns. NIWA (National Institute of Weather and Atmospheric Research) has clearly stated that floods and droughts will become more common.

In order to safeguard our ability to grow food as the climate changes, our population grows, and our global trading partners demand more of our food exports, we need to capture and store water so that it is available when needed.

The infrastructure for capturing, storing, and distributing water is complex, expensive, and takes a long time to set up and build.

At the moment there is no comprehensive strategy for developing this infrastructure to protect New Zealand’s ability to grow food. It is very hard to get regulatory approval for this infrastructure. This regulatory uncertainty makes it very difficult to secure investment.

We need change.

Water security and availability will be a key enabler for New Zealand as it seeks to protect and grow its communities in the face of imminent climate change impacts. It is also a vital means to support a productive, sustainable, and inclusive economy.

There is enough water to share with all users. We need more investment in capture and storage so we can all benefit.

There is enough water in New Zealand for everyone, especially if we make efficient use of what is available. This means increasing our capture and storage of water when it falls or melts so that we can use it at times when it’s naturally scarce.

To ensure we have secure and available water we need to build appropriate water capture and storage infrastructure.

Water for future

New Zealand is under intense pressure to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and has committed to achieving zero emissions by 2050.

Irrigation is key to enabling farmers to change their land use as part of reducing emissions.

Almost all methane emissions in New Zealand are from livestock. Farmers want to reduce emissions for the good of the environment and their business. This can be done without reducing herd sizes by using scientifically proven methods to reduce emissions per animal. Many farmers are looking at reducing emissions by changing how they use their land.

Let’s change the narrative

If a farmer wants to change from ruminant agriculture to crop-growing or horticulture they must have access to reliable water. Reliable water and irrigation also underpin diversification to high value specialist food for export.

Water storage and irrigation are currently not sufficiently recognised in policy as key enablers for these changes.

We need change.

There is a misconception that irrigation equates to intensive animal agriculture, especially dairy, and results in dirty rivers. This is not only incorrect but overly simplistic.

This narrative is preventing New Zealand from taking a strategic, future-focused view on how water, in particular water capture and storage, can support our communities, environment, and economy.

Irrigation is key to food production in New Zealand, which supports jobs in rural communities and bolsters the national economy.

What is needed from the Government

• To be willing and able to support water capture, storage, and use

• A Minister for Water

• A strategy for water capture, storage, and use that puts climate change adaptation and mitigation at the centre

• Certainty regarding water capture and storage

• Creation of enabling policy

• Promotion of innovation

• Support of investment

• Demonstration of flexibility

• Sharing of information and promotion of education

Prioritise the creation of a cross-agency water group to design a long-term strategy for freshwater in New Zealand, led by a Minister for Water. This should be underpinned by research to: improve freshwater outcomes at a catchment level, increase the resilience of food production, lift productivity, and develop climate resilient and adaptive infrastructure.

Integrate all aspects of freshwater management into one holistic plan and approach, including but not limited to freshwater farm plans, drinking water regulation, wetlands, biodiversity, integrated farm management, and dam safety legislation.

Enable climate adaptation by ensuring infrastructure for water capture, storage, and distribution is correctly prioritised in long term planning strategies. This must appropriately take into account changing weather patterns and drier or wetter regions which need reliable water to sustain food and fibre production.

Look at land use change opportunities across New Zealand, taking into consideration our highly productive soils, and match reliable water planning to ensure long term improvements of environmental outcomes.

Ensure resilience by facilitating water capture and storage opportunities. Develop a check-list of criteria for regionally significant water storage and distribution projects to ensure they provide multiple benefits for the community. These benefits include drinking water, local hydro-electricity, environmental allocation, unlocking the productive potential of iwi-Māoriowned land, enabling land-use change, and growing new food/product groups linked to export markets. For approved projects, facilitate a fast-track consenting or designation pathway.

Support investment by creating a fund for feasibility studies and financial bridging (loan) support for community projects that meet established criteria.

IrrigationNZ is calling on an incoming Government to consider the following:

Demonstrate flexibility by reviewing regulation and policies impacting freshwater, thus ensuring food producers can continue to prioritise the growing of food and fibre as the climate changes. This can include consistency in the approach for setting freshwater farm plan actions by using a risk-based assessment set using catchment or watershed objectives and priorities. Work at a local catchment level to strike the correct balance between environmental protection, social and cultural objectives, and the use of freshwater for producing food and fibre.

Reduce uncertainty by providing long term consent options for water storage projects in order to attract and retain investment in infrastructure. This relates not to big dams, but appropriate, community-based water harvesting, storage, and distribution.

Ensure the community is given a voice in planning processes along with regional councils and iwi-Māori when establishing catchment priorities and making spatial planning decisions.

Promote innovation by driving the efficiency of all water uses as part of catchment level freshwater outcomes. Use effective education campaigns and programmes to reinforce messaging and enable the wider adoption of minimum competency standards where required.

Review and, where necessary, reset water use efficiency targets, especially in over-allocated catchments. Take into account the opportunities presented by further water capture, storage, and distribution. Monitor and report on all water uses where this is still required and incorporate data with catchment modelling to inform freshwater management decisions. Where appropriate allow the transfer of water consents within local catchments.

Share information and promote education by measuring and reporting on farmer and grower environmental improvements and behaviour change.

Commission a report on the national economic and social benefits of irrigation.

Measure and report on catchment objectives including economic, well-being, and environmental contributions/outcomes. Support education on land-use change, and water and nutrient efficiency.

2023 Election Special: Freshwater policy and management from New Zealand political parties

There has been a lot of public debate about how New Zealand should manage drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. There has also been lots of policy work done regarding the quality of New Zealand’s rivers. Ahead of the 2023 general election we were interested to find out more from our political leaders on how New Zealand should manage freshwater for growing food, with a focus on political views and policy options for freshwater, particularly as it relates to primary production. We know freshwater is always high on the political agenda. We asked the following questions to the National Party, ACT Party, Labour Party, NZFirst, Green Party, Te Pati Māori, and TOP. We did not receive a response from all parties.

• Is the capture and storage of freshwater in dams during the rainy season(s) for use in the growing of food during the dry season something that you see as beneficial for New Zealanders?

If yes, why?

If no, why not?

• Water stored in dams can be used for purposes other than growing food. These are hydroelectricity, supplying dry rivers in hot summers, and providing backup water supply to small rural towns. Would you support building dams for these purposes?

If yes, what policy settings would you have to enable this?

If no, why not?

• Would you like to share any further thoughts on freshwater as it relates to the agricultural sector?

NZ FIRST: FRESHWATER POLICIES TO SUPPORT PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Shane Jones, NZ First Party

New Zealand faces a huge post-COVID debt, and we must pay our bills. The way forward is by growing our exports and fostering the success of our primary industries. Freshwater management, water storage, and a strong irrigation service industry are all key to supporting our primary sector’s growth and the overall health of our economy.

While tourism has played a key role in expanding our foreign exchange, our food production industries are where our economic backbone is located, even during the pandemic. Internationally we are regarded as a source of clean, dependable, and healthy food. We should capitalise on this market position and continue to grow our food export sector.

Boosting our export income requires a reset, but the new Resource Management Act (RMA) legislation is not it. National Policy Statements which prioritise water body “well-being”, which is an ill-defined and uncertain obligation, are hobbling rather than enabling growth. Such regulatory interventions are likely to frustrate and freeze investment in irrigation and water storage. Policy should be led by the regions, based on local requirements that will support farmers, communities, and our export economy.

All New Zealanders have views and values associated with streams, rivers, and water bodies. Water is necessary to our social, cultural, and economic life. However, we do

Assisting the revenuegenerating engine and growth of our export industries is essential. Adequate water storage, infrastructure, and the entire supporting irrigation service industry are critical building blocks.

not think that Te Mana o Te Wai statements which give legal status to iwi spiritual water values belong in water legislation. Such matters will create endless opportunities for litigation and stagnation. Communities, firms, and investors wanting to build water storage will face a set of statutory tests which are vague and uncertain.

NZ First has a strong record in supporting water storage. Within Northland, concrete proof of our focus on developing water storage assets is evidenced by the creation of the Matawii dam, funded via the NZ First-led Provincial Growth Fund. The new dam has boosted water resilience for the township of Kaikohe and will improve the productivity of local landholdings by helping to convert the surrounding land to higher value uses.

This dam is a prime example of how Crown investment in key infrastructure assets can foster rural community resilience. The upfront costs for water storage are often too steep for individual councils or landowners, and Crown-led projects can provide additional options.

Capturing, storing, and managing water is essential to mitigating the effects of climate change, floods, and droughts. The Matawii dam was consented under the fast-track consenting process. It appears however, this statutory route is no longer fast or efficient but rather burdensome and costly. It is intolerable for such water-related infrastructure to be stranded indefinitely in resource consent processes.

The provision of water through enhanced storage and irrigation investments is regarded by NZ First as a matter of economic security. Training people, upgrading technology, and

allowing the irrigation services industry to flourish are integral to our provincial wealth creation.

NZ First supports a higher threshold for landowners to develop on-farm water storage dams. Such initiatives should be conducted under the supervision of a suitably qualified engineer. Capital is scarce and ought to be used to build the infrastructure rather than struggle through consent processes. As climate-related weather events challenge our primary sector, water resilience and water infrastructure are increasingly important.

New Zealand has a significant postCOVID debt along with an ageing population and creaking infrastructure. Assisting the revenue-generating engine and growth of our export industries is essential. Adequate water storage, infrastructure, and the entire supporting irrigation service industry are critical building blocks. Through a smart mix of efficient statutory processes, investment, and political leadership, NZ First will enable resilience.

the onus is on finding a reason for something not to occur – any reason. There are so many bureaucratic functions in place that any progress takes forever, and often seemingly trivial concerns can derail an entire project.

ACT wants to change this. We have set out a comprehensive replacement for New Zealand’s planning laws, focused on property rights for private land and democratically accountable local groups being responsible for common areas. Regarding water storage, ACT believes that farmers and other water users should be free to use water how they see fit, so long as they remain within specified environmental limits. This should include making it easier for farmers to build water storage and irrigation.

ACT would make building water storage a permitted activity under an Environmental Protection Act for excess overland and rainwater, i.e. above pre-climate change seasonal averages. That means specific council permission would not be required to build such facilities.

Regarding water storage, ACT believes that farmers and other water users should be free to use water how they see fit, so long as they remain within specified environmental limits. This should include making it easier for farmers to build water storage and irrigation.

through smart markets as described by University of Canterbury researchers Milke and Raffensperger. A smart market can reduce the transaction costs of trading impacts while improving the environmental outcomes. International evidence shows that trading impacts within environmental limits is the most effective and efficient long term management strategy to improve the environment.

Climate change is likely to result in increasing levels of heavier rainfall and flooding risk, as well as dry periods and droughts. Ensuring that farmers can meet the challenge of climate change through incentivising water storage and irrigation is a critical part of climate adaptation.

There are too many barriers to getting things built in New Zealand. Water storage infrastructure is no exception. The benefits of water storage infrastructure are huge. It drives innovation and allows producers to shift to higher value activities, it mitigates against drought and other climate-related issues, and it creates certainty of supply for municipal water supplies, many of which are concerningly low across New Zealand. Real change to planning laws is needed to address this. Allowing people to build things and make the most of the natural environment can be New Zealand’s competitive advantage.

ACT NEW ZEALAND Simon Court, ACT Spokesperson for Environment & Climate, Energy & Resources, Transport & Infrastructure, and Local Government.

The food and fibre sector is essential to New Zealand’s prosperity. It is forecast to generate $56 billion in export revenue this year alone and accounts for 81.8 percent of trade. Despite this significance, many aspects of the industry are held back by planning laws that aren’t fit for purpose.

Put simply, New Zealand is reliant on production from the primary industries, and the primary industries are reliant on access to water.

The biggest barrier to getting the significant infrastructure in place that is needed to store water is New Zealand’s outdated, overly bureaucratic, and restrictive planning laws. The current regime takes an approach where

Once a pricing system is created for water allocation there is no reason for councils to become involved in how that water is used. Therefore, drawing from common water resources to fill a storage facility would not require additional permission beyond holding a permit for water drawn.

Democratically accountable local communities and regional councils, not central government, should be responsible for setting environmental limits for water quality, quantity, and discharges. These environmental limits will be based on a scientific assessment of the impact on the waterway.

Rather than setting allocation rules which are illogical and simply add costs to the productive sector and businesses, ACT would introduce a market-based system which allows impacts of nutrient and other discharges on freshwater and groundwater to be traded within environmental limits.

These trading systems would operate

NATIONAL PARTY: FRESHWATER POLICY

Hon. Scott Simpson, MP, Spokesperson

for Oceans and Fisheries, and Water

New Zealand's freshwater is the lifeblood of our nation, driving our world-renowned food production and upholding our internationally recognised environment standards. National embraces a future of clean, abundant water and a thriving environment that enriches the lives of every New Zealander.

We recognise the importance and benefits of water storage for irrigation to support our

primary industries, which are the backbone of our economy. We also recognise the importance of water storage in large hydroelectric schemes like the Waikato Hydro Scheme. In the National Party, we are proud of the fact that New Zealand’s renewable energy usage as a total percentage of electricity generation is one of highest in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

We believe that the key to ensuring water is utilised efficiently is to work with water stakeholders, property owners, and iwi, and to better utilise data to develop a more efficient and equitable method for the allocation of water resources, ensuring fairness and efficiency for all New Zealanders. National will empower local communities to define their catchmentlevel limits. These limits will accommodate the distinct variations in land uses, soil types, and water flow rates, reflecting the unique requirements and attributes of each catchment.

Building on previous freshwater management reforms, we are committed to continuous improvement. Our focus is on reinforcing clear, science-based, robust, and practical environmental bottom lines that secure the future of our precious water resources in a National Policy Statement for Freshwater. National supports Freshwater Farm Plans.

National will empower local communities to define their catchment­level limits. These limits will accommodate the distinct variations in land uses, soil types, and water flow rates, reflecting the unique requirements and attributes of each catchment.

Repeal Labour’s Natural and Built Environment legislation.

National will repeal Labour’s Natural and Built Environment legislation, which is set to become law before the 2023 election, and will replace it with new resource management legislation that will not only protect the environment but also reduce red tape. This will ensure settings are appropriate for the distribution of fresh water so farmers can produce high quality food for both domestic consumption and the export market.

In the National Party, we acknowledge that the RMA is broken, but any reform of the RMA must improve things and be worth the considerable cost of change. In the Environment Select Committee we listened carefully to submitters and their wide-ranging criticisms of Labour’s planned alternatives. The clear feedback on the current Government’s bills is that they will make it harder to get things done, will not improve the environment, and will be worse than what we have now. Labour’s plans will increase bureaucracy, significantly increase legal complexity and litigation, remove local decision-making, and put our decarbonisation goals at risk. New Zealand cannot afford the extensive litigation and legal uncertainty that will inevitably follow.

In the National Party we are concerned about the lack of long-term consent options for water storage projects proposed in the Natural and Built Environment Bill. National’s resource management legislation would look to include consent options for longer term water capture and storage, as well as fast-tracking the consent process for approved water projects.

Local Water Done Well

National has announced our alternative to Labour’s Three Waters centralisation plans. We call it Local Water Done Well

A key part of this policy is that we will set strict rules for water quality, and for investment in infrastructure, so New Zealanders do not have to worry about sewage on their streets, un-swimmable beaches, or having to boil their drinking water. We will also ensure water services are financially sustainable so that future generations do not inherit outdated or failing infrastructure.

Our plan will restore Kiwi confidence that water infrastructure is being funded on a continuous basis, with investment being made when and where it is needed. We will ensure communities get what they pay for. Local Water Done Well is a pathway to environmental and financial sustainability of quality water services across New Zealand.

National’s full policy on Local Water Done Well can be viewed on our National Party website, www.national.org.nz/local_water_done_well

National will announce a suite of policies on water closer to the 2023 General Election.

GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NZ Hon. Eugenie Sage, Green Party Spokesperson for Environment and Freshwater

The Green Party agrees with hashtags such as #WaterforFood, #WaterForRivers, #WaterFor Drinking, and #WaterForLife in IrrigationNZ’s manifesto for political parties. How these slogans are implemented is important. For many New Zealanders irrigation has lost its social licence because of the dairying boom and the extensive agricultural intensification it has enabled. The increased irrigation takes and the pollution load from doubling the dairy herd has had a major impact on water quality and flows, and the health of rivers, lakes, streams, and aquifers; especially in regions such as Canterbury.

Federated Farmers CEO Terry Copeland recently told Forest and Bird’s annual conference that, “We have seen peak cow in this country. With hindsight, should we have done so much dairying in Canterbury? Probably no.” As Geoff Keey tweeted in response, “In Canterbury hindsight wasn’t needed because the problems of dairy intensification were well signalled. Learning to avoid such wilful blindness in future is the real lesson.” That lesson must be the basis for change.

Rebuilding social licence for irrigation involves listening, dialogue, and genuine engagement with iwi and hāpu, stakeholders from local councils to environmental NGOs, and recreational users such as fishers and kayakers, something which IrrigationNZ has started. We need to eat, but we can only grow food sustainably if our rivers and streams have healthy and variable flows, and if we safeguard drinking water sources by changing land uses and reversing the current trend of increasing nitrate levels.

Irrigation can be more sustainable if we focus on growing the value of our food and fibre exports, rather than the volume. With a 1kg block of cheese costing $14.00 and

households under pressure from increasing food prices, some see irrigation to grow food for export as having limited benefits for local consumers.

Livestock products represented 79 percent of total agricultural production in 2019. Protecting the climate requires a shift away from water-intensive animal agriculture to more cropping and horticulture to produce plant-based foods. This requires matching crops with suitable soils and micro-climates. Increasing oat production in Southland, for example, recognises that the region’s land, soil, and climate are ideal for growing oats.

Learning to do more with less water should be a key part of any resilience strategy. That’s because the land area irrigated and the level of new development may reduce as the climate changes and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 is implemented, and water is returned to over-allocated rivers and aquifers.

Any assumption that irrigators should be able to take and store more water from rivers, lakes, and aquifers as a climate adaptation strategy is a recipe for further conflict and litigation. More large dams and storage reservoirs such as Opuha and Waimea are not the solution.

Water storage needs to benefit biodiversity, which paddock ponds and dams fail to do. The current push to increase water security with more storage only makes sense if that storage is ecologically sound. Wetlands act as nature’s sponges and as kidneys in the landscape. They slow runoff and improve water quality, as well as providing habitat. Restoring and re-establishing indigenous wetlands, including riparian wetlands, could help recharge streams and groundwater. Recloaking steep erosion-prone country in native forest will help harvest water, as will

planting and expanding tall tussock cover in the South Island high country.

In an “era of climate boiling” with longer and more severe droughts, especially in east coast regions, we need more investment in crops with low water demand which are suited to a dry climate. This could include figs, goji berries, lentils, quinoa, amaranth, pearl millet, and fava beans.

Better integration of practices and technologies to monitor, measure, and manage water can also improve efficiency and resilience.

Ensuring a reliable water supply enables farmers to optimise production and cultivate a diverse range of high­value products throughout the year. Enhanced agricultural productivity not only contributes to food security, but also boosts rural incomes and supports New Zealand’s export­oriented economy.

work, learn, and play. These services include drinking water and irrigation networks.

Water plays an integral role in ensuring our economy is equitable, sustainable, and productive. Water storage will help to futureproof our communities. As a result of the flood-drought cycle many regions throughout New Zealand already face there is a need for reliable water sources. This will not only secure access to drinking water, but also unlock the potential of the land we all rely on.

LABOUR: FRESHWATER STORAGE AND USE

Hon. Damien O’Connor, Labour Spokesperson for Agriculture

Water storage is critical to New Zealand’s future. It will ensure our agricultural productivity, enhance ecosystems, mitigate the impact of droughts, and foster sustainable development.

Cyclone Gabrielle was bigger and more severe than anything we have seen this century, and its intensity is clearly the result of a changing climate. These events will increasingly begin to have an impact on our water infrastructure. It’s our job, in Government, to provide communities with the tools and support they need to prepare for and deal with the challenges ahead. Last year, we released the country’s first National Adaptation Plan and we’re putting climate change front-and-centre in the new planning laws that are replacing the Resource Management Act.

The National Adaptation Plan brings together more than 120 actions that provide a blueprint for more resilient communities, where everything from our homes to the way we grow our food is protected from the worst effects of climate change. As canvassed in the plan, infrastructure underpins our society. It provides the services we depend on to live,

Water storage and irrigation also play a big role in improving crop yield and livestock productivity. Ensuring a reliable water supply enables farmers to optimise production and cultivate a diverse range of high-value products throughout the year. Enhanced agricultural productivity not only contributes to food security, but also boosts rural incomes and supports New Zealand’s export-oriented economy.

Water storage and irrigation systems can promote sustainable water use if they are designed to optimise water application and reduce wastage and over-extraction from natural water sources. By embracing efficient irrigation practices, farmers minimise runoff and leaching, preventing water pollution.

However, large-scale private irrigation schemes should be economically viable on their own, without requiring significant public financing. We must also be mindful of the potential for large-scale irrigation to lead to intensive farming practices which may contribute to adverse environmental outcomes.

Our vision is for a resilient primary sector striving for value over volume. This means irrigation schemes must be environmentally and economically viable, with vital regional infrastructure supported by the Government. This will provide a good balance to ensure better outcomes for all New Zealanders.

The current push to increase water security with more storage only makes sense if that storage is ecologically sound. Wetlands act as nature’s sponges and as kidneys in the landscape. They slow runoff and improve water quality, as well as providing habitat. Restoring and re­establishing indigenous wetlands, including riparian wetlands, could help recharge streams and groundwater.

Hon Damien O’Connor Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Trade & Export Growth, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Land Information, Associate Minister of Transport

From volume to value –capturing opportunities

A few months ago I drove by an apple orchard in my electorate, near Motueka, and saw trees being pulled out.

“Subdivision,” I said to myself, lamenting the loss of productive land.

A few weeks later I went past the same block, and rather than seeing survey pegs I saw new trees had been planted. I learned that the trees were new varieties that the orchardist had determined were going to meet changing consumer tastes.

This is an example of the responsiveness of business to market signals.

This, to me, sums up the times.

We live in a climate of change that is creating some headwinds for a small exporting nation like ours in the South Pacific.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how exposed we are at the end of the line in terms of shipping and distribution. Trade protectionism continues to creep around the globe, characterised by the view that trade is the problem. Russia’s war on Ukraine has driven up fertiliser and fuel prices.

These factors have provided inflationary pressures for farmers and growers.

And, of course, we have the world-wide response to climate change as well as the weather events that climate change brings, such as those in the North Island in January and February.

These are challenges, but where some stay focused on challenge in change, others see opportunity.

One of these changes is consumer change. The internet age has ushered in smartphones, 5G connectivity, and social media, and with these an expectation of information –for knowledge.

New Zealand’s markets are those with high-value consumers who ask themselves as they fill their supermarket trolleys; ‘Where is this food from?’, ‘How was it produced and by who?’, ‘Is it good for my child?’, and ‘Will this increase my carbon footprint?’

We live in an age where these consumers can and will expect to have those questions answered within seconds, thanks to technology.

Where some in the food and fibre sector might see this as a headwind, it’s actually a tail wind for New Zealand farmers and growers.

Why? Because New Zealand has a welleducated and engaged sector. It’s one where people quickly share ideas and practices –responding to new tech or the market trends outlined above. Not all of our competitors have this advantage.

I call this going from volume to values – moving on from the mantra of ‘volume to value’.

In travelling as Trade Minister my assessment is that we are very well-positioned to capture these opportunities.

Since 2017, food and fibre exports have grown by 47 percent to a record $56.2 billion, a remarkable achievement given the headwinds I outlined above.

During this time the Government’s trade agenda has had very good momentum – signing or upgrading seven free trade agreements (FTA) in six years, including deals with the UK and EU. These agreements open more market doors for exporters in a changing world.

The Government has consistently backed our food and fibre sector through consecutive Budget investments so the sector can position itself for increasing market scrutiny of sustainability credentials. In doing so we’ve worked collaboratively with farmers and growers.

Those questions I mentioned are expressions of consumer values, and just as that Motueka orchardist was responding to changing consumer tastes, our sector’s future lies in aligning our production story with the values of our consumers.

Budget 2022’s $1 billion package for the food and fibre sector continues to flow through for the next three years. Last year we established the Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions as part of a $338 million investment in reducing agricultural emissions. This was warmly welcomed across the sector. As part of that vital work, we’ve secured $170 million through AgriZeroNZ – the 50:50 joint venture with business to get new emissions reduction tools into the hands of farmers.

Our Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund has now seen $555 million co-invested with business across 255 innovative projects. These projects include work to have spray-free apples, reduce nutrient loss to benefit fresh-

… New Zealand has a well­educated and engaged sector. It’s one where people quickly share ideas and practices – responding to new tech or the market trends outlined above. Not all of our competitors have this advantage.

water, breed livestock with lower methane emissions, develop robotic asparagus picking, ramp up the medicinal cannabis sector, and scientifically validate regenerative production, just to name a few.

We’ve also invested over $47 million into more than 200 catchment groups across the country. The work of these farmer and grower led groups is critical in restoring our rivers, lakes, and wetlands – keeping our social licence in an increasingly urbanised New Zealand.

Furthermore, we’re on track to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis, having just announced no known infections and no investigations in play. We are now five years into a ten-year programme to which we committed nearly $900 million in 2018. Cattle productivity and welfare would be badly knocked if the

disease were to become endemic.

I would like to see our industry on a truly sustainable path economically, environmentally, and from a people perspective. It’s vital we attract and retain smart and passionate people.

In summary, I’m speaking to the ‘Why?’ for change and how we are working with the

sector to get there. I think it’s important for people to understand why.

By working together to be the most efficient and sustainable food and fibre producers, we grow our brand and deliver economic security for New Zealand. By staying ahead of the curve we also become the best farmers for the world.

Technology for efficient irrigation management

Senninger

Arad Octave

Revolutionary, precise and super reliable ultrasonic bulk water meter

To find your local dealer contact Water Supply Products: Auckland: 09-916 0094 Christchurch: 03-348 1293 info@watersupply.co.nz www.watersupply.co.nz

Sue Hinton Senior Adoption Officer Tasmanian Drought Resilience and Adoption Hub Australia

Water management in Tasmania and New Zealand

Sue Hinton is Senior Adoption Officer with the Tasmanian Drought Resilience and Adoption Hub which is funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. The Hub is based in the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture at the University of Tasmania.

I grew up in Brisbane, Queensland with no family ties to the land or agriculture. You might wonder how a girl from Brisbane ended up having an incredibly rewarding career in agriculture, focusing on irrigation management. I loved science and decided in my latter years of high school that I wanted

to study at Queensland Agricultural College. I completed a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticultural Technology. In my current role, I work from Launceston in the north of Tasmania.

I spent the first few years of my career in south-east Queensland. I then applied for a really interesting looking job with a company called McGowan International, to work on a new crop in Tasmania called pyrethrum. Pyrethrum is a daisy grown to extract natural insecticides. I was the successful applicant, and in mid-1986 I headed south for two or three years of experience in a cooler climate. The wonders of Tasmania and the diversity of Tasmania’s agricultural enterprises very soon had me

staying as a more permanent resident in the state.

During my time in Tasmania I have had the opportunity to work with many crops that aren’t common in other places. I have worked as a field officer in the production of pharmaceutical poppies, vegetables, essential oils, cereals, pastures, berries, and tree crops. I ran my own consulting business for 13 years. I was employed by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) for ten years, initially in an industry development and extension role. I then took on the leadership role of TIA’s irrigation programme. The common thread through my work is my passion for irrigation management. I have been involved in many

irrigation management-based projects. Some of the work I have done has been supported by private companies, such as working on irrigation scheduling in poppies for GlaxoSmithKline. Other work has been in projects funded by the Australian Government and Tasmanian State Government. Some of these projects include Wise Watering Program, Sustainable Water Use on Vegetable Farms, Growing the Essential Oils Industry, Sustainability at the Source, and Water for Profit. The common theme in my work is encouraging practice change towards more efficient and effective irrigation management in our complex landscapes and mixed farming systems.

I was an early adopter of tools for monitoring soil water, and encouraged farmers to use the information to inform decisions for irrigation scheduling (both timing and quantity). Forty years later I continue to be passionate about the sustainable use of water in our agricultural systems, and minimising the impact we have on our soils in irrigated agricultural systems.

To set the context for irrigated agriculture in Tasmania – the average annual rainfall map shows that the highest rainfall is on the western side of the island. The major agricultural production areas are along the north coast and through the eastern half of the state. Much of the area in the eastern half has an average annual rainfall below 700mm. Tasmania is a winter-dominant rainfall zone.

Agriculture in Tasmania is very diverse and is an important contributor to the state’s economy. Water for irrigation is important to reach targets in the Competitiveness of Tasmanian Agriculture strategy of the state Government, which aims to grow farm gate

value to $10 billion by 2050. Unlike many areas where irrigation water is contracting, irrigation schemes have been expanding here in Tasmania since 2008.

Traditionally, water for irrigation is sourced from rivers or streams, via a licence and a water allocation which is managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRET). There are licences for direct take during the irrigation season and also for taking during the off-season to go into on-farm storage. The challenge with these licences to pump from the river is the level of surety attached to the licence. Depending on seasonal conditions, there can often be ‘cease to take’ water orders, implemented when irrigation is needed for production. There are a small number of irrigation schemes that are self-managed by local water entities.

A big change came in 2008 when Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd (TI) was established. This was the beginning of the increase of the availability of irrigation water through new or enhanced schemes across Tasmania. TI is a state-owned company that owns, operates, designs, and develops irrigation schemes which enable farmers to expand, diversify, and value-add to their agricultural production. The water is supplied with a high level of surety. Tasmanian Irrigation currently manages 18 schemes, with another 10 schemes in planning. The water entitlements TI manages are 134,000 megalitres (ML) and this will increase as schemes come online.

The Australian Government provided funding through the Water for the Future initiative for Tasmania to undertake sustainable irrigation projects. Purchases by farmers

and other investors of water entitlements in the schemes contribute funding to the development of the infrastructure. Water users pay a variable charge each year on the megalitres of water they use, which cover the cost of getting the water to their farm boundary.

On-farm water storage has increased as a result of the building of the irrigation schemes. This allows for off-season take of water for storage, to be used during peak irrigation times. There are dams that farmers

A soil pit at Longford in Northern Tasmania, showing the duplex soil at the site of a centre pivot irrigator.

Sue Hinton at a site in Bishopsbourne, Tasmania, talking about the Sensor Smart Irrigation project which was funded by Sense-T.

fill from river licences in the off-season. There is very little groundwater used for irrigation in Tasmania.

An important participant in the water scene is Hydro Tasmania. The hydropower system in Tasmania uses water from six major river catchments to generate energy. Hydro supplies water to support the irrigation schemes and also urban water supplies. Hydro storages are used to source this water. TI manages the irrigation water and TasWater manages the urban water supplies. The Hydro has an extensive network of modified lakes, rivers, streams, and canals that flow through a range of landforms and land use zones.

The soils across Tasmania’s agricultural areas are variable, which creates a challenge in managing water applications when irrigating. Related to the textural changes in soils are differences in water-holding capacity. Across paddocks there can be the same variability. The use of variable rate irrigation technology can be of benefit to help attain more even water application to match the water holding capacity of the soils.

My passion is to help farmers to improve production – by providing optimum soil water levels, a crop’s exposure to periods of waterlogging and/or drought is reduced. In most cases, optimal soil water levels will aid crop performance by reducing the incidence of pests

On­farm water storage has increased as a result of the building of the irrigation schemes. This allows for off­season take of water for storage to be used during peak irrigation times. There are dams that farmers fill from river licences in the off­season. There is very little groundwater used for irrigation in Tasmania.

and diseases. This will support economic benefits through more efficient use of water and energy. Improved water use efficiency means reducing applications of water that is not used by the crop or can not be held by the soil, minimising system losses, and reducing unnecessary pumping. The aim is to reduce environmental impacts –minimising waterlogging leads to reduced nutrient and chemical leaching, less water erosion, reduced potential for the development of salinity, and reduces the potential amount of saline groundwater that ends up in rivers and streams.

Some of the Hydro Tasmania infrastructure at Tarraleah where there is a power station.

Data reinforces the need for more work to reduce our impact on water

More needs to be done if we’re to see significant improvements in our region’s water quality, according to two recently published reports.

Environment Canterbury has published the Annual Groundwater Quality Survey 2022, which found that nitrate concentrations in groundwater across much of Canterbury continue to increase.

An additional report, “How long will it take?” A summary of information about nitrate time lags in Canterbury, was published earlier this year. It found that we can expect to see changes in groundwater quality within five to 10 years after major land use change. However, despite measures taken to reduce nitrate leaching in the past decade, those changes are yet to be seen.

Environment Canterbury Groundwater Science Manager Carl Hanson said a lot of good work has been done to improve land-use practices around the region, but it’s clear more is required.

“Understanding nitrate time lags is crucial to determining whether current nitrate loss reduction measures are sufficient,” Hanson said.

“When we put these two reports together, they tell us that changes made to date have not been enough to turn around the increasing trends in nitrate concentrations,” he added.

Science will help inform future plans

Environment Canterbury Chair Peter Scott says that farmers have made great progress in recent years, by reducing nitrate leaching and implementing other good management practices, but he acknowledges that it’s not yet having the results the community wants.

“Nitrate is a major issue for us and it’s hard to understand how it moves through groundwater. Understanding nitrate time lags is crucial to determining whether current nitrate loss reduction measures are sufficient, and it will help inform us as we work towards new rule frameworks.”

Over the next few years, Environment Canterbury will be working towards a new regional plan that will – among many other things – review the nitrate leaching limits set under our current planning framework.

Scott said that it’s important people understand that their regional council is working hard to address water quality challenges, and that they can have their say on a future for Canterbury.

“We have been consulting with the community towards a new Regional Policy Statement and will resume in mid-October. It’s really important that Cantabrians have their say on how we can achieve our environmental goals.”

For more information on nitrate and to read the reports, visit ecan.govt.nz/nitrate

Peter Scott

Canterbury

Chair, Environment

“A lot of good work has been done to improve land-use practices around the region, but it’s clear more is required.”

What does our future look like, Canterbury?

We’ve just completed the first phase of public and stakeholder engagement towards an integrated planning framework –through a public campaign called “What’s our future Canterbury?”

Don’t panic though, you haven’t missed out, there are still plenty of opportunities to have your say and shape our plans, including a new Regional Policy Statement (RPS) and targeted changes to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan, which we plan to notify by the end of 2024.

The targeted changes need to be made to ensure our plans align with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, and the RPS is due for a review – the current one is 10 years old now. Our engagement process aims to test whether it is still fit for purpose and will reflect how the views of the community have changed over the past 10 years. Both these pieces of legislation are significant for the primary sector, so ensuring that you have a say in the future management of Waitaha Canterbury’s natural resources is the main purpose of this article. Our challenge together is to set ambitious but achievable goals that the whole community can get behind and contribute to delivering.

What is an RPS, and why should you care?

Our Regional Policy Statement is a powerful tool for driving change because it sets the direction for all other plans, including district plans by local councils that include, for example, strong guidance on how and where we can build and as importantly, where we shouldn’t.

A plan is only as good as what goes into it and ultimately, the positive behaviours it drives – which is why we are keen to hear from people during all stages of our engagement. Your input will help us form and test our ideas and ensure we are on the same page as our communities. We can only achieve the goals we set together if each of us also commits to playing our part in delivering those goals.

The story so far

Through July and August, we asked people to share their visions for freshwater and the outcomes they would like to see for the Waitaha/Canterbury natural, worked and lived-in environment. We asked for highlevel input and fully appreciate ‘visions’ are hard for many people to get their head around, but this is a necessary first step the legislation requires.

What happens next?

Now we have taken that first step, and once we have spent September processing what was said, we can get into more tangible stuff and fully expect to get more in-depth input on our proposed policy direction.

The next phase of What’s our future, Canterbury? is scheduled for October and November, when we will reflect back to our communities some draft visions and outcomes and suggest options to achieve them. This will be your next significant opportunity to influence the outcomes as well as the methods that will best achieve them.

What can you do?

While the feedback part of the Have your Say pages on our website is closed for now, there is still lots of information for you to access and start to form ideas about how you think natural resources should be managed.

The main thing for now though, is to ensure the organisations that represent you understand your priorities – we have already talked with IrrigationNZ, Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ and many more.

And make sure you put a note in your diary to look out for the start of the next campaign scheduled for 16 October.

You can visit our website at that time to make sure you know what the proposed options are, and please, tell us what you think – Canterbury’s future is literally in your hands.

Your say matters, and we look forward to hearing from you in the spring!

For more information on Our Future, Canterbury, visit ecan.govt.nz/ourfuture where you can also subscribe to receive updates.

Waimakariri River and farmland, looking towards the Southern Alps.

Winter grazing flights see good practice being adopted

Good paddock preparation and winter grazing practices ensured the effects on freshwater of winter grazing in Canterbury were minimised over winter, especially in difficult conditions following heavy rain in July.

We undertook two mid-season monitoring flights in July, over Waimakariri and Ashburton, with field staff and industry representatives observing winter grazing in practice. These flights were a follow-up to two similar preseason flights over the same regions earlier in the year.

Critical source area protection is vital

During our July winter grazing flights, we saw stock being excluded from waterways with good buffers in place, and effort being put into pugging management with bales laid out prior to grazing, adequate number of troughs and feeders and in more than one case the use of back fencing.

Principal implementation advisor, farm systems, Sarah Heddell said that staff saw that on most farms, paddocks had been carefully chosen to avoid critical source areas, however, where they were present, good buffers were evident in most cases.

“Given the wet weather events we’ve experienced over the past couple of winters, paddock selection is crucial to avoid critical source areas and the potential overland flow delivering contaminants to waterways,” she said.

Farmer follow-up important to reinforce message

Staff noted four farms where improvements could be made and followed up with landowners to ensure their winter grazing practices follow best practice and that no adverse effects on freshwater occurred.

“We will also be contacting farmers where we have seen some really positive practices, especially those identified who made considerable improvements after follow-up in the 2022 winter season,” Heddell said.

“We have seen some really good practices being implemented by a lot of farmers. We also want to remind them to make sure that they are meeting the new national winter grazing regulations when they prepare for winter 2024.”

Start looking ahead to next season

As well as putting in appropriate good practice mitigations to stop effects on freshwater, farmers need to ensure they are meeting the new national winter grazing regulations. If a farm needs resource consent for its winter grazing activity, it is now overdue.

“When thinking ahead to winter 2024, farmers should be checking whether their winter grazing practice is a Permitted Activity, and if not, applying for resource consent as soon as possible,” Heddell said.

“Now is the best time to start planning which paddocks are best to plant with winter crop, making sure waterways are protected by sufficient buffer zones of at least five metres. Critical source areas also need to be excluded from grazing over the winter period to minimise contaminants accumulating in these areas and travelling to waterways, so look to leave them uncropped when setting up a wintering paddock.”

Environment Canterbury is now focusing on compliance with the new regulations and will be making sure farmers who likely need a winter grazing resource consent obtain one before next winter.

For more information on winter grazing, including resource consent requirements, visit ecan.govt.nz/wintergrazing

Taking action together to shape a thriving and resilient Canterbury, now and for future generations. Toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te iwi. ecan.govt.nz

Mid Canterbury Water Monitoring Programme taking next steps to support land management

After six years of a comprehensive water monitoring programme, farmers in Mid Canterbury, as part of MHV Water, are supporting the use of the data to conduct research into the soil and geological­specific correlations between nitrate concentrations in groundwater and farm systems. Their aim is to enable farmers to make on­farm evidence­based decisions to drive improved water quality outcomes.

MHV Water is a farmer-owned irrigation scheme that manages and delivers water for irrigation to approximately 58,000 hectares of farmland in Mid Canterbury, between the Ashburton and Rangitata rivers. As a co-operative, the farmers collectively own the infrastructure, and MHV Water staff are tasked with managing the infrastructure which delivers water across the district. Additionally, MHV manages the environmental education and compliance for its shareholders. The water quality monitoring programme is an integral part of their business.

In September 2016, MHV commenced routine groundwater monitoring of nitratenitrogen (NO3-N) within the MHV scheme area, with an initial 25 bores. The early objective of the programme was to understand the changes in NO3-N in the groundwater of the Hekeao/Hinds Plains.

As the focus of the monitoring programme has evolved over time, so has the design of the programme. With collaboration and support from the Hekeao Hinds Water Enhancement Trust (HHWET) and Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Ltd the programme has extended beyond MHV’s operational blueprint and now includes some 150 bores and 60 surface water sites.

MHV Water Senior Hydrogeologist Justin Legg largely leads the programme and has recently said it was important to consider ‘What now?’ when it came to the results.

To answer this question, he will commence a PhD at the University of Otago this spring. He hopes to quantify and define the key drivers of NO3-N sources, migration, and retention across the Hekeao/Hinds Plains for different farm systems. His intention is to define solutions for the co-existence of improving water quality practices and farming communities.

Justin said that the results from the programme had helped MHV to gain a better understanding of the variable distribution of NO3-N concentrations across the catchment based on the interaction of rainfall, hydrology, and soil types. Through investigating these relationships, it is hoped that they can develop a farm system management framework to support farmers to focus on the most effective changes at farm scale that will support further improvements to water quality outcomes across the catchment.

“The aim of the programme is to help farmers reduce nitrate leaching at a farm scale and with varying systems and land types, while keeping land, water, and people front of

mind. Based on the monitoring programme, there is a strong foundation of existing data and information. This, along with institutional knowledge, will allow the research to be holistic and integrated rather than focusing on one aspect alone. Consequently, the value proposition is higher than getting a third party to undertake the work.”

With the support of MHV, Justin will carry out the research part-time over the next six years through the University of Otago. Rather than a single lengthy thesis, the research will produce three peer-reviewed publications.

“This means that results and findings can be delivered throughout the research programme rather than at its conclusion.”

“The hydrology both on the surface and beneath our feet is hugely complex and so is the part that nitrogen plays in that. I am excited to find out more about it and support fact and science-based decision-making to help remove the element of doubt around whether what is being done will actually make a difference.”

Justin Legg water testing in the Hekeao/Hinds catchment.

Harnessing the power of the sun Community irrigation scheme success in using solar power for augmentation and pumping water

Assisting stream health and electricity use through solar power has been supported by a small solar project by the Eiffelton Community Group Irrigation Scheme (ECGIS).

ECGIS is a small owner-operated irrigation scheme located near the Ashburton coast of Canterbury. It was established in the mid 1980s, has 13 members, and covers 2,200 hectares.

The scheme’s system involves pumping water from multiple groundwater bores into lowland waterways for irrigation purposes. During the irrigation season the lowland streams are supported by the water that is present. This, in turn, supports operational, fish habitat, and passage improvements. However, when the scheme is not running (e.g. winter months) there is not always excess water available. For many years ECGIS has voluntarily augmented the waterways through targeted stream augmentation (TSA), and sought to alleviate some of the energy costs involved with this.

The idea to use solar power came about in early 2020. Solar are a good source of renewable energy for irrigation and many environmental projects because of the correlation between solar radiance and evapo-

transpiration. With funding support from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, Environment Canterbury, and scheme members, the project began in spring 2020. By May 2021 the solar panels were completed, with a total of 160

panels covering 400 square metres commissioned at a total cost of $120,000. The system has been in use since then.

Frizzell Agricultural Electronics owner, Alastair Frizzell, was involved with developing this project. He said the installed capacity of

Rick Bourke (left) and Alastair Frizzell have been heavily involved with the development of the project.

the system is a 45 kilowatt (kW) solar array connected to a 50kW groundwater pump and the electricity grid.

Alastair said that by comparison, most house solar installations consist of about 12 panels, typically with a maximum output of 5kW of energy. This is about one-tenth of the size of the Eiffelton system.

Over the course of the 2021–2022 season the system produced around 60,000 kilowatts of energy. The system is configured so that energy production is maximised in summer, when demand is greatest for irrigation. While the configuration means there is some loss of energy over the winter period, the electricity is only used to support TSA.

When the energy from the solar array exceeds what is needed for the pump, the excess is fed back into the grid to give the scheme a credit. Alastair said that to maximise returns it is important to configure the solar energy system so that the maximum amount of energy is used on site, and as little as possible is traded in to and out of the grid.

The theoretical economic model predicted a net electricity cost of $7,625 over the November to February period for an average year. The actual net cost of electricity over this period for the 2021–2022 year was $1,722, providing an above average year comparison.

The electricity cost less because although the solar panels produced less power than budgeted, the wet season irrigation demand and resulting irrigation pump running time were much lower than in a typical season.

The results showed that solar energy supply for irrigation has big advantages compared to solar installations to provide energy for houses. While houses need energy in the morning and at night and typically have higher demand in winter, demand and solar generation are a much better fit in irrigation systems. “When it is hot and dry the panels have a high output to cope with higher irrigation demand. Solar production drops when it is cloudy and raining, just like irrigation demand.”

Alastair said it suggests there is a positive business case for investing in solar power for all assessed scenarios. For the 2021–2022 season, return on capital was assessed to be close to 20 percent, due to the above average season (including electricity spot prices).

The panels themselves generally have a 30-year life span, and beyond that continue to be productive but at a slightly reduced rate.

Chairman of ECGIS, Rick Bourke, said developing this project was a great outcome for what was a challenge for the scheme.

“As a small scheme, electricity is a big cost. Therefore it was good to find a way to support this that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.”

“Small projects such as these are important for understanding how effective they can be – a proof of concept of the value. As a scheme we would like to look at using solar to offset electricity costs in other areas in the long term, where costs allow.”

Stephen McNally Principal Technical Advisor IrrigationNZ

Technical matters

Perhaps because it’s an election year or perhaps because we always have a lot of ground to cover at IrrigationNZ, there has been a surge in messaging that lands into our rural sector. I’ve been closely analysing this correspondence, which comes from commentators that have varied levels of informedness. Along with this, almost daily I track what is happening internationally regarding irrigation technology and freshwater management systems, which enables me to monitor how the New Zealand food and fibre production environment compares world-wide.

Globally it is clear nothing is standing still; for our farmers and growers, our consumer markets, and our policy makers. All are having to work constantly to adapt to local and global change and the expectations society places on them. To keep abreast of which issues are important and which are distracting in the job of producing food, I feel it’s worth repeating and emphasising some of the key messages here.

RESILIENCE IS MUCH MORE THAN CLIMATE ADAPTATION

The New Zealand farming sector plays a vital role in the nation’s resilience by supplying food to local and global markets while contributing to the country’s economy and social fabric. However, amidst an era of rapid change led by global population growth and evolving consumer expectations, farmers are often bombarded with negative rhetoric which instills concern, stress, and anxiety.

It is essential for people in the farming community to recognise the importance of avoiding such negativity and instead surround themselves with knowledgeable and confident individuals who can provide support and guidance. By focusing on innovative and rewarding practices that they know in their hearts are right, while aligning with community expectations and fostering a

low-impact environment, farmers can shape a prosperous future for social resilience.

New Zealand farming families possess a deep connection to the land and a unique skill set, honed through years of experience. It is crucial to have confidence in these abilities and in earned wisdom when making decisions that impact agricultural practices, especially regarding environmental impact.

Our farming sector has long been known for its commitment to innovative practices and environmental stewardship; after all, their livelihoods depend on long-term good management of their individual ecosystems of soil, water, plants, and animals. Embracing these good practices not only helps to mitigate the impact on the environment of growing food for humans, but also enhances its role in social resilience. By showcasing a proactive and balanced approach to land and resource management, farmers can be leaders in building trust with consumers, thus strengthening the connection between the farming community and the wider society.

Regulations are often viewed as barriers that hinder progress and innovation. However, it is important to recognise that most regulations have been forced into existence to capture those who have been slow to embrace change and been persistent with outdated practices. It is human nature, and maybe epitomised by the New Zealand way of life, to value the freedoms our country offers. Viewing regulations as a framework for improvement, rather than a lack of freedom, can shift perspective and allow farmers to stay ahead of the curve. While often coy about openly celebrating success, there are many examples where our farming families have demonstrated within their communities what can be achieved.

A well-founded business of any type will allocate time to adopting a reasonably

formal risk-based approach, in most cases allowing for compliance, while fostering long-term success. By staying informed and implementing robust and defensible decision-making plans that consider short and long-term objectives, farmers can navigate regulatory requirements effectively.

IS IRRIGATION WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL?

In mid-June, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) initiated a consultation programme titled “Strengthening the Resilience of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Critical Infrastructure System.” The primary objective is to ensure a secure foundation for a productive, sustainable, and inclusive economy in New Zealand.

The DPMC consultation programme identifies four megatrends that will reshape New Zealand’s infrastructure system, with climate change being the first highlighted trend. Climate change is projected to undermine the resilience of New Zealand’s critical infrastructure by intensifying stresses, vulnerabilities, and the risk of shocks. The recent impact of Cyclone Gabrielle serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of our primary sector.

Over the past year, IrrigationNZ has engaged in discussions with Te Waihanga, the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, as well as the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), regarding the crucial role of irrigation infrastructure in supporting the primary sector and our communities. Our focus has been on determining whether irrigation water storage and distribution align with the definitions of critical infrastructure.

Although New Zealand law does not currently define critical infrastructure, the

DPMC consultation attempts to provide one: it proposes that critical infrastructure can be defined as those assets that encompass services that are indispensable for the functioning of society, the economy, public safety and security, and the provision of public services.

Numerous entities across the country are already considered essential services, almost by default. These include energy, telecommunications, water services (freshwater, wastewater, and stormwater), food and grocery providers, financial services, cloud data storage providers, and the transport system.

Considering the role of large-scale and community-level irrigation water supply schemes, it is apparent that they play a similarly critical role in substantial portions of the rural economy and social fabric. The failure or inability of these schemes to meet the demands of irrigated operations could have severe repercussions within the food supply chain, potentially impacting health, community well-being, and livelihoods.

IrrigationNZ is working closely with government agencies to determine the position of irrigation infrastructure in regulatory priorities, and the potential implications of proposed legislation such as the Natural and Built Environment Bill, and the National Planning Framework.

IrrigationNZ has presented in our submission the ways in which a comprehensive, all-hazards approach to the risk assessment of an irrigation asset could be used to better inform the Government in its infrastructure planning, and benefit our irrigation scheme members.

WHERE ARE WE AT WITH FRESHWATER FARM PLANS

Freshwater Farms Plans (FWFPs) were passed into law in June 2023, sitting under Part 9 of the Resource Management Act (RMA). The Freshwater Farm Plan Regulations take effect progressively, starting with the Waikato from 1st August 2023. Other regions will follow over the next 18 months, with the rollout schedule depending on existing farm planning infrastructure, the capability and capacity of certifiers, and regional council progress on the development of new freshwater regional plans under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020. Even though the current Government has reformed the RMA to be the Natural and Built Environment Act, much of the text on

freshwater plans was cut and pasted into the new legislation.

There is a plethora of information available on the MfE website and in sector organisations regarding what FWFPs mean for farmers and growers. In essence, the regulations put the health of the whenua (land) and wai (water) at the centre of farm decision making. Farmers will need to do a farm-specific freshwater risk assessment, taking into account their catchment-specific issues.

On-farm actions to manage risks to freshwater will be tailored to each farm based on the farm landscape, the particular farming activities, and the local catchment. Risks will include considering inherent vulnerabilities. These are risks to freshwater ecosystems from the biophysical features of the land including from irrigation, such as the system type being matched to soil types and topography, and how irrigation scheduling is managed to avoid runoff and leaching. These should not be new concepts to irrigators!

FWFPs will need to be certified and audited. The results of certification and auditing will be reported to the regional council. The whole FWFP does not need to be uploaded to the regional council, only the farm identification details and the list of actions adopted to manage or mitigate those risks.

This approach of making the FWFP specific to each farm’s unique situation is a great improvement from earlier suggestions that the regulations could take a one size fits all approach. Through submissions and collaboration we’ve moved well beyond that, but these plans will still need close attention to detail to meet regulatory obligations.

Many farmers already have a farm environment plan (FEP) or are part of an industry programme, and FWFPs will build on that existing good work. This approach will help ensure that on-farm actions in FWFPs are practical and effective for that individual farm, while meeting objectives that most farmers already have as part of their personal, family, and business goals.

The FWFP process should acknowledge the good work already underway. In some operations this approach may require some additional thinking about how the land and water use is being managed.

SUBMISSION TO STATS NZ ON GATHERING OF AGRICULTURAL DATA SETS

Stats NZ is again looking to refine what data is gathered in its recurring annual Agricultural Production Survey. Last year they conducted the five-yearly Agricultural Production Census, which is similar but often contains different questions. This data shapes not only government policy but also the sector response to identified trends in land and freshwater use, so it’s important that the right questions are asked. IrrigationNZ has submitted that the omission of irrigation questions from the annual survey misses the opportunity to gather important data which would better inform public and private sector views on irrigation practices and freshwater impact.

IrrigationNZ pointed out to Stats NZ that the annual Our Freshwater reports published annually by Stats NZ and MfE have consistently grouped irrigation practices

with fertiliser use as jointly having adverse environmental effects.

We know our submissions lead to change, due to feedback from Stats NZ on a previous issue we highlighted regarding the irrigation data sets in the five-yearly census. Stats NZ agree that it is important to represent the uptake of solid set systems as a stand-alone data set, especially given that their use is expanding quite rapidly, and there are increasing concerns around water usage, environment, and climate. Previously, solid set systems were included in an “other system type” category that included flood and side roll systems, which are quite different in efficiency.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS RURAL SECTOR WATER FORUM ENGAGEMENT

IrrigationNZ has recently joined other representatives from the primary sector in a new Rural Sector Water Forum established and facilitated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). This is a way for key rural stakeholders to engage directly with staff from the Water Services Reform Programme.

This forum is focused on Three Waters, the reform programme for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater, and how this programme may impact the rural sector. So far, the rural sector has only been lightly engaged on Three Waters reform.

To date, topics of presentations to this forum have included the Ministry for the Environment drinking water source risk management areas, and the work of Taumata Arowai (TA) in relation to pragmatic solutions for drinking water safety in rural communities.

Presentations are planned on how these largely urban-focused programmes could be better integrated with the freshwater reforms that have seen the introduction of the Freshwater Farm Plans process. The FWFP (Freshwater Farm Plan) could conceivably incorporate an appropriate level of risk assessment and action around matters such as drinking water on farms.

TE ARA PAERANGI –FUTURE PATHWAYS

Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways, run out of MBIE, is engaging with various sectors to report on a multi-year programme focused on the future of New Zealand’s research, science, and innovation system. Through Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathway, the Government is proposing to build a modern, future-focused

research system for New Zealand to enable us to meet challenges and make the most of the opportunities.

We have been engaging with MBIE on establishing the National Research Priorities. Having clear direction for the research, science, and innovation system is a key pillar of the Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways reform. National Research Priorities will enable the Government to focus research funding and activities on the most important social, environmental, health, and economic issues and opportunities for Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Government has stated that given the nationally important strategic level of the Research Priorities there is a need to act above sector interests.

MBIE made some effort earlier this year to lift the consultation on Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways, opening the door for rural research objectives to be better included in planning and funding for researchers.

The Cabinet has indicated it will make final decisions on recommendations from an Independent Strategic Panel (ISP) of experts that was announced in late August. Government says the ISP will consider analysis and advice to establish the Research Priorities by November. The ISP indicates it will use a cross-agency working group with input from various stakeholders, including government agencies, sector experts, international and futures experts, industry, and Māori representatives.

The primary sector is pleased to see some respected names on the ISP with strong links to the rural sector, but will have to continue to push hard to ensure rural interests are properly represented in establishing the Research Priorities.

IS A NATIONAL FOOD STRATEGY  A REAL PRIORITY?

New Zealand faces the complex challenge of balancing its role in global food supply, environmental sustainability, and human health. The directors of the six current National Science Challenges have united to emphasise their opinion on the need for a comprehensive National Food Strategy. Their proposed strategy aims to address the crucial role of food in ensuring the wellbeing of the nation and its people, while safeguarding the environment and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

While we agree that establishing a healthy

and environmentally sustainable food supply is crucial for human and planetary health, there may be other gaps in our national strategies to be resolved first in order to better support a food security objective.

Recognising the unavoidable land-use changes in response to climate change and freshwater protection policies, the science challenge directors emphasised in their combined media release the importance of a planned approach to redesigning future food production in New Zealand. There was a strong focus on people within New Zealand society that do not have access to affordable and nutritious food. While they called for focus on the wellbeing of people and the protection of land and water resources, they indicated a prioritisation above the needs of international markets in a New Zealand food security strategy.

While acknowledging the relevance of food security, it is essential to consider the broader context of New Zealand’s water management. IrrigationNZ would argue that many issues related to climate adaptation, land use change, downstream impacts, and nutrition distribution can be traced back to the lack of a comprehensive national water strategy or centralised decision-making on matters of freshwater. IrrigationNZ believes that rather than a food security strategy New Zealand is in need of a national water strategy as a precursor to addressing these interconnected challenges.

New Zealand’s current policy landscape has a strong focus on environmental protection, which potentially neglects the collaborative approach needed to secure our society’s future in freshwater management, food production, and energy. A more balanced approach, incorporating economic, social, and cultural outcomes for communities needs to be inclusive of the primary sector in decision-making, and take care to avoid basing decisions exclusively on economic or environmental benefits.

Research findings suggest that not only in New Zealand, but globally, water availability and security present a primary risk to New Zealand’s future. A shift in focus from food security to a comprehensive national freshwater availability and security strategy would better support informed decisions on land use change, the production of a diverse locally-sourced diet, and the economic benefits derived from a thriving primary sector within a global supply chain.

The Natural and Built Environment Bill passes third reading

As I write this column, on 16 August 2023, I have had half an eye on the live stream of Parliament TV, waiting for what is likely to be once in a generation legislative change. The third and final readings of the Natural and Built Environment Bill (NBEB) and the Spatial Planning Bill (SPB) are soon to reach the daily order of activities of the House. By the time this magazine goes to print the NBEB and SPB will both have been given Royal Assent as the core of reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA). IrrigationNZ, along with over 3,000 other submitters, have provided extensive feedback to the Select Committee and individual politicians on concerns regarding this resource management reform.

Many of our concerns remained unresolved. While we agreed that the RMA as it was did not deliver a balanced outcome for a resilient economy and the environment, the Bill as presented did not provide a viable alternative and may potentially lead to many years of litigation as new terminology and words are tested through the courts.

We are yet to see the third partner to these, the Climate Change Adaptation Bill (CCAB). IrrigationNZ is working closely on the fourth key component which is the National Planning Framework (NPF).

The NBEB has many references relating to water which are sprinkled throughout multiple sections, parts, and subparts. This makes reading and interpretation of issues related to irrigators and irrigation schemes difficult.

Under the blanket ten-year consent duration, water storage can now be argued to the Minister as a case for exemption if the construction, operation, upgrading, and maintenance of the infrastructure is for the purpose of improving outcomes related to resilience to environmental change or climate change. Yet, it doesn’t specifically encourage storage for irrigation on the basis of balance with economic or other multi-

use community benefits. In fact, under the three new resource allocation principles of “sustainability, efficiency and equity”, sustainable is now defined as meaning only environmental sustainability. Those who are familiar with balanced triple or quadruple bottom line reporting, the contemporary term ESG (environmental, social, and governance), or the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, will see that this new narrow definition of sustainability is very concerning and quite at odds with international definitions.

The NBEB system outcomes statements are also concerning. There is reference to well-functioning urban and rural areas with the use and development of land for a variety of activities, including housing, business use, and primary production. A further system outcome says infrastructure is to be provided in a timely and ongoing manner to promote the well-being of both present and future generations. The Bill says in order to promote the well-being of both present and future generations, highly productive land is to be protected for use in land-based primary production and from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development.

This reference to land being used for food production is good to see enter the NBEB. But it’s incredible to see this stacked up against the protection of habitats of introduced species’, with the protection of trout and salmon as a target. By comparison, food production itself is not explicitly listed as an outcome. Food is mentioned in relation to the protection of mahinga kai rights, and food is defined as a product of horticultural land. Pastoral land is only defined as land for grazing livestock, but not as a food source.

Farming for food is the only human activity that is called out as having adverse environmental effects on freshwater and freshwater ecosystems. More obvious human activities that impact the environment, like municipal landfills, sewerage treatment plants, and roads, are not treated the same.

Different land use: Assessing soil health following conversion from forestry to pasture in Canterbury

Soil health was assessed across land conversions from forestry (Pinus radiata) to irrigated dairy pasture. Samples were collected and indicators of soil fertility, organic matter, soil physical condition, and biological activity assessed. Soil health scores were calculated from the indicators, and distance from optimum shown in radar plots. Soil health was improved for pastoral land use following conversion from forestry. The time since forestry ceased and irrigation commenced had a significant effect on indicators of soil health, although many were not optimum even for the sites longest out of forestry/under irrigation.

We caught up with Agresearch Senior Scientist Nicole Schon who has been involved with this research to find out more about it.

What has some of your research included and why is it important to you?

My research investigates soil health in the context of the farm system. A particular focus has been on the role of earthworms within the soil ecosystem. Soils are one of the farm’s greatest assets. Improving our knowledge of soils to better assess and manage this resource should ultimately benefit farm performance while also reducing environmental impacts.

What do you see as some of the main challenges for soil management in New Zealand?

While the health of New Zealand soils is generally good, with high levels of soil organic carbon, challenges remain.

Some of the biggest challenges may be around maintaining the physical integrity of the soil, especially as we are impacted by more extreme weather events. Another exciting opportunity exists around maximising the natural capacity of the soil function by better

utilising the biology’s contribution to soil processes. In terms of soil microbiology, there is still a huge amount to learn.

When it comes to soil health, what influence does irrigation have?

Irrigation during the dry summer months removes moisture limitation for pasture growth, but also biological activity. Studies at the long-term irrigation trial at Winchmore show increased carbon losses under irrigated pastures in comparison to dryland pastures, which increased microbial respiration may be contributing to. Earthworm abundance was higher during irrigation in summer in comparison to the dryland pastures.

How did this research come about, and who was involved?

The Farm Soil Health project was funded through the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, within the Next Generation Systems research programme. Ngāi Tahu Farming had a goal to maintain the life-

Although the soil health score was highest at the sites that had been out of forestry and irrigated the longest, even after seven years some indicators were still lacking. The lack of biological activity, including earthworms, was particularly noticeable, and suggested opportunities to accelerate soil health improvement.

sustaining capacity of soils during the change from pine forestry to pastoral agriculture.

What key things were investigated?

The research investigated the changes in the soil after taking pine trees away. Sampling was done at a chronosequence of five sites, including a site still in forest, which had been part of Eyrewell Forest, north of the Waimakariri River. Soil health was assessed against target ranges suitable for high-producing pastoral agriculture. The closer to these targets, the better the soil health status.

What were the key findings?

Soils under existing pine forests were not optimal for growing pastures. Over time the conversion to irrigated dairy pasture improved soil health indicators towards targets established for pasture soils. Although the soil health score was highest at the sites that had been out of forestry and irrigated the longest,

even after seven years some indicators were still lacking. The lack of biological activity, including earthworms, was particularly noticeable, and suggested opportunities to accelerate soil health improvement.

What role did irrigation play?

Irrigation appeared to improve the progression of soil health indicators towards target levels for pasture soils, e.g. organic matter quality and earthworm abundance.

What was the process of the conversion?

Some of the forestry had been cleared earlier, and this area had at least one rotation of winter crop for cows prior to going into pasture. The existing trees were felled, and the land cleared, including root raking to remove as much of the tree material as possible. Then the land was treated with lime and other fertiliser as deemed necessary to quickly develop the soils to support productive dairy pastures.

Pivotal.

What is the future of this project?

The results showed that after seven years soil health indicators were not at optimum levels for pasture production. It may take action beyond standard practice to create an environment that will enhance the soil and the services provided. Ngāi Tahu has started a trial to explore how regenerative management can improve soil health, and the impacts on the wider farm and environmental performance.

This is a seven-year project funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Farming Fund.

ourlandandwater.nz/outputs/assessingsoil-health-following-conversion-fromforestry-to-pasture-in-canterbury

Anderson Lloyd is the trusted legal advisor for major players in New Zealand’s irrigation sector, with a proven ability to deliver results. We have advised on numerous existing and proposed schemes in the North and South Islands and act for individual farmers and agribusinesses.

Our specialist team advises on all aspects associated with large-scale irrigation schemes including banking, capital raising, commercial contract, resource management and construction matters.

David Goodman, Partner p: 03 335 1235

m: 027 787 8785 david.goodman@al.nz

Sarah Eveleigh, Partner p: 03 335 1217

m: 027 204 1479

sarah.eveleigh@al.nz

Genomic data empowers decision-making

Over the past two years, Fernside farmer Julie Bradshaw has down-sized her dairy herd while maintaining the same level of milk production, through the use of genomics.

Julie has been participating in a Next Generation Farming project designed to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like Julie are using innovation to demonstrate productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

The biggest change Julie has made on

GENOMICS

her farm over the last two years is that her herd selection process now includes close examination of genomic data.

Julie has already reduced her herd size by 15 cows and is planning to remove 10 of last year’s calves based on genomic data she has received from Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC). She credits the reliability of the information with helping her to make these science-based decisions.

“The advances in the data we are getting now, and the reliability of that data, means that we can be certain about which animals to keep.

“There is no point paying for grazing for animals for three or four years that don’t end up being productive dairy cows.

“With the reductions I have made I have still retained the same level of milk production, so I know I have made the right decision.”

In the past, Julie would have retained cows with low BW (breeding worth), but with the possibility of reductions in the numbers of cows on farms in the future, she wants to ensure that her herd is performing at its best.

“When you look at what is happening overseas you can see that farmers have already reduced their herd numbers and it is only a matter of time before it happens here.

“It is challenging, but you need to look at your entire farming operation and see what you can do to farm more efficiently. With all the science and data that we can access now it makes sense to use all the tools you have in your toolbox.”

Julie says she believes genomics and scientific innovation will play an increasingly significant role in New Zealand farming in the future.

“When I look at the data I am getting now compared to a few years ago it is amazing. I think the data will continue to improve as more herds get involved and this will be of huge benefit to everyone involved in the farming industry.”

Julie has shared her learnings from the innovation project with local farmers, and she says most of them are keen to know more about her journey and can see the benefits of using science to improve their farms.

“Farmers are supportive and willing to share what they have learned. If you are a farmer who is open to innovation and new ideas, I believe you will be able to continue to farm into the future and have a successful farming business.”

is the study of genomes, which is a full set of chromosomes. These hold all the inheritable traits of an organism.

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw has been aided by the use of genomic data to make decisions about which cows to focus on.

Farm viability improved through precision agriculture

Roscoe Taggart has seen some key benefits realised over the last two years on his family’s 730 hectare arable and sheep farm in Cust. These include reduced input costs, less nitrogen fertiliser use, and improved environmental outcomes.

Roscoe has achieved greater efficiency through precision agriculture and the use of a new Yara N-Sensor. This has been during a Next Generation Farming project designed to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like Roscoe are using innovation to demonstrate productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

As the harvest season draws to a close, Roscoe says this harvest has been a mixed bag due to wet weather conditions. However, his new maize for seed and evening primrose crops have provided positive results.

“At the beginning of harvest we had really good results. Unfortunately, then the tap just turned on and we had huge amounts of rain coming through at the wrong time, which cost quite a bit in terms of yield for the later crops.

“We have just harvested our evening primrose and it’s been surprising to see how well it has done, especially for a paddock that was pretty wet early on. We’ve exceeded our target for the seed yield off it.”

Roscoe tried maize for grain for the first time this year. He is pleased with how the crop went, and will plant it again next season as it works well in his crop rotation and returns potassium to the soil.

“It’s a crop with nice deep roots, so it breaks up the soil nicely. And while it does require a bit of fertiliser up front, you end up returning a lot of potassium to the soil instead of removing it, which is what happens if you grow it for silage instead of for grain.

“It also works well because we harvest it

in early June, so it extends the season out further, which means we are harvesting from November through to June.”

For Roscoe, one of the most important precision agriculture tools is his Yara N-Sensor which has allowed him to reduce his use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser by approximately 80 kilograms this season.

“We have saved around three units of N per tonne of grain. So on a twelve-tonne paddock you are saving 36 units of N per hectare which gives us an overall saving of 80 kilograms of urea for the season.

“It’s been a game changer for us, especially using the N-Sensor in absolute mode, where the N-Sensor decides how much fertiliser to apply. We’ll keep using it in absolute mode because it minimises our N use which is important not just in terms of cost savings but also environmental impact.”

To further reduce his use of nitrogen fertiliser Roscoe is learning about mineralisable N in the soil which is released from organic matter throughout the season.

“The soil itself can supply a good amount of mineralisable N and we just need to work out when the N in the soil will be available for the plant to use. We believe this will

reduce our use of N fertiliser even further.”

One thing that has surprised Roscoe over the last two years during the N-Sensor trial is the amount of variability he has throughout his farm.

“There’s more variation in our relatively flat, uniform farm than I ever could have imagined. Looking at the maps that come out of the N-Sensor there’s no consistency in paddocks that before using the sensor I would have thought of as very consistent.”

Roscoe sees precision agriculture as critical in ensuring the future viability of farming in New Zealand.

“Precision ag makes your farm more efficient, and there are some real social, environmental, and economic benefits that you don’t realise until you get into this.

“I never thought too much about future generations until I had kids of my own, and you want them to have the opportunity to farm where you farm. That’s when you start looking around the place and thinking about how to make farming sustainable for the next generation.

“If I can leave this land in as good or better a condition than I found it, then I will be happy with what I have achieved.”

Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart with the maize for grain crop he is trialling this season.

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology

The Certificate III in Irrigation Technology was introduced to the IrrigationNZ training curriculum in 2022. The first intake started in September 2022, and these students are going to complete their fourth and final one-week block course in September 2023.

This programme of training is nationally recognised in Australia. It is tailored to deliver a multi-platform learning experience which covers every aspect of irrigation. The course is considered the starting point or gateway into the irrigation industry. It includes learning everything needed to install and maintain irrigation systems in a wide range of professional environments and is fully compatible with irrigation systems and technology in New Zealand.

The course has been successfully run by Irrigation Australia for many years in Australia, and is now being taught in New Zealand by tutors from Irrigation Australia. It includes completing four one-week block courses where students are involved in both classroom teaching and practical learning. Between block courses, students complete on-the-job workplace learning and record their hours spent learning specific competencies – like an apprenticeship.

We caught up with some people who have been involved in the course in its first year of being available in New Zealand.

PERRY COSTEN

What is your role and where are you based?

I am currently an irrigation serviceman for AgServe Ltd, based in Ashburton, and servicing all of Canterbury.

Why did you decide to enrol in Certificate III in Irrigation Technology?

I have always worked within the agricultural service industry and I suppose I fell into the irrigation industry. Water is the lifeblood of our productivity and efficiency in agriculture. Unfortunately, there is a common thought that it is in infinite supply. I do not believe it is, and I think we can use and preserve it better than historically it has been.

I decided to enrol in the Certificate because I still have lots to learn. Being a serviceman, exposure to other parts of irrigation, such as compliance, can be few and far between.

How far through the course are you and what skills have you learnt?

I am currently waiting to start my final block course within a month or so. I have learned a lot, including about system design, compliance, and water pumps. Cementing my knowledge of soils in relation to irrigation has been a surprising but welcome module.

Who would you recommend the course for and what advice would you give them?

I recommend this course to anyone working in the irrigation industry who wishes to expand what they think they know. Just do it. The contacts you make in the industry and the opportunities that can be created because of the course are invaluable. I’d like to thank IrrigationNZ and Irrigation Australia for the opportunity to be a part of this first course intake. And for their ongoing support and all their hard work for us in the industry.

Students sorting parts to match job sheets.

MIKE BOWLER

What is your role and where are you based?

I am an irrigation designer and technical lead with Rainer Irrigation, based in Ashburton.

How did you come to be in this role? Why is water important to you?

I have been in the irrigation industry for many years and have worked both in Zimbabwe and New Zealand. I was able to bring my experience in irrigation to New Zealand and to the position I have now with the company. Water is a fundamental resource required in farming and I have always enjoyed developing irrigation designs through to the supply and installation and commissioning of systems. There is a lot of job satisfaction in supplying water to a farm that has not previously had irrigation or possibly a reliable stock water system. One works as part of a team and each project is totally unique. And the skills required to achieve a successful outcome are quite varied.

Why has your company decided to enrol employees on the Certificate III course?

We saw this as an opportunity for our candidate to gain a variety of knowledge in various aspects of irrigation, with a focus on some of the practical skills needed. The course was run by tutors from Australia using a well-established curriculum.

What are the positives you are seeing by having your employee on the course?

Our candidate has gained some more understanding of the technicalities behind many of the irrigation components he deals with each day. It gives him a better overall knowledge of the projects he is involved in. There has been a substantial emphasis on health and safety considerations in the workplace throughout the course, as well. Some of the modules cover more than our candidate will encounter on a daily basis but this develops a wider knowledge that will be useful to him. It should also give him skills to enhance his leadership potential.

There is a strong focus on workplace learning. How do you manage this?

Our company has a system of computer-based job cards and time scheduling. Our candidate allocates jobs that are pertinent to his course and logs them into the online portal that has been provided by the course conveners. He also takes photos as part of his work diary. These will be used to support his workplace learning evidence.

As a student’s supervisor/mentor, what is your role in their learning journey?

I am available for our candidate if he has any technical queries on the material he is working on. I may not have the answer, but we can think through a solution. I do try to familiarise myself with their study material. It is important to be encouraging, as doing distance

training and learning can be quite disheartening and sometimes even a lonely journey. I strongly feel that sharing the journey with a candidate, even if one is not actually doing the course oneself, helps to keep them motivated and have a better experience. Doing a training course whilst working does often conflict with the time available. It is quite easy to let work overtake the time that should be spent on the course. My role as a mentor is to help our candidate maintain the momentum of his studying and achieving the course requirements. I advocate for him with his manager to ensure that the time required is made available.

How does the Certificate III course support you and the learner to succeed?

I have access as a mentor to an online portal, which is a learning management system, where I can approve material that our student has uploaded. I feel that more information early on in the course could have been provided to mentors and supervisors in order to help us support him better. Having a better indication of the work material and time expectations that our candidate was going to need to invest would have helped. I was able to meet with one of the Australian tutors during a block course held in town which did help to get a feel for the course.

Who would you recommend this course for?

This course would suit a person in the irrigation industry that has had some work experience as it will cover a range of units that will increase the knowledge and skills of the candidate. Some units are specific in the skills taught, some units give a wider view of issues that a progressive candidate will face in the irrigation industry. Doing the course with other candidates from different companies will also help to develop some collegial relationships.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of completing the course?

Do consider doing the course as it comes from a well-established training organisation in Australia. It will require a substantial time commitment, both during and outside of work hours. The knowledge acquired will enhance the progress of the candidate in their irrigation career.

Anything else you would like to add?

It would be good to see this course become an industry standard training programme for people in the irrigation sector to develop their careers.

CERTIFICATE III IN IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY

The first course intake was a pilot where feedback received from students, mentors and tutors will help shape future course delivery. This ensures the course is industry-led to best fit the industry's needs.

Registrations are being taken for the next course which starts in November. View our website www.irrigationnz.co.nz to find out more.

Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Cadetships programme builds resilient businesses and employees

Earlier this year IrrigationNZ met with Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry for Māori Development, to learn more about their Cadetships programme. The programme supports employers to train, develop, and mentor Māori employees wanting to move into higher­skilled and better paid roles. As well as benefiting the employee, this contributes to thriving, innovative, and resilient businesses.

See the below article from Te Puni Kōkiri for more details.

Employers and businesses with Māori staff can access funding through Te Puni Kōkiri’s Cadetships programme if they commit to providing each cadet with structured mentoring, tailored training and development including an aspect of te ao Māori capability uplift, and relevant work and life skills, including potential qualifications. Last year 91 employers successfully did just that, investing in 1,408 cadets to achieve their full potential.

Investment Director Karen McGuinness says Cadetships support the upskilling of existing and new Māori employees of any age. They target growth industries such as IT, technology, and science, as well as the more traditional trades, agricultural, and infrastructure sectors.

“It’s a real win-win for employers, as it offers the opportunity to grow their businesses and employees in what has been a challenging economic landscape,” says Karen. “Cadets have taken on engineering apprenticeships, management roles, and post-graduate internships in health, resource management, IT, construction, and the primary sector.”

Te Puni Kōkiri has partnered with large organisations, such as NZ Post and Downer, but the majority of partners (77 percent) are small to medium sized businesses employing

up to 49 employees. Māori-owned businesses represent 72 percent, but all businesses are encouraged to apply for Cadetships’ funding, especially those wanting to grow the number of Māori employees, wāhine Māori, and their skill levels.

The initiative is led by employers, who choose their cadets and organise the programmes for them. This includes structured mentoring and a training programme which increases the employees’ leadership, management, and work-related skills, leading to promotions and higher earnings.

Each Cadetship is worth up to $10,000 and is for the development of employees of any age, who can be a new or existing Māori employee.

Te Puni Kōkiri market research has identified that organisations participating in the Cadetships programme have been recognised as employers of choice for Māori. Actively supporting the upskilling of existing and new Māori employees has improved staff retention, leading to improvements in overall employee and business performance.

The goals for partnerships between employers and Te Puni Kōkiri through the Cadetships programme are to build a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive Māori economy.

Organisations interested in applying for the Cadetships programme can contact the local Te Puni Kōkiri office, which can assist with applications.

For more information on Te Puni Kōkiri Cadetships programme, including application form, visit:

www.tpk.govt.nz/en/nga-putea-me-ngaratonga/rangatahi/cadetships

To make contact with your local Te Puni Kōkiri office, visit: www.tpk.govt.nz/en/whakapa-mai

Photos: Pūniu River Care Cadetship Programme.

DID YOU KNOW?

Community Water Supply Scheme

Our water systems support us in many ways everyday and are complex in terms of how they work together.

Source SOCIAL LICENCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT & COMPLIANCE 39 / IrrigationNZ News Spring 2023

Factors SUPPLY & DEMAND SEASONALITY INDUSTRY STOCK WATER ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS DRINKING IRRIGATION GROUNDWATER SUPPLEMENT

Seasonal climate outlook

September–November 2023

OUTLOOK SUMMARY

El Niño Alert criteria continued to be met during August. Central equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) exceeded El Niño thresholds and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), an atmospheric indicator, was near the El Niño threshold. The conditions needed to officially classify El Niño in a New Zealand context may be reached during September.

Air pressure is forecast to be above normal to the northwest of Aotearoa New Zealand and below normal to the south of the country, leading to more southwesterly quarter winds than normal across the country for the season as a whole. However, the pattern during the first half of September will differ from this theme, with more easterly quarter winds.

Spring rainfall is about equally likely to be near normal or above normal in the west of the South Island and most likely to be below normal in all other regions. Spring may be marked by unusually long dry spells for several regions, owing to a combination of high pressure near the country and lower chances for atmospheric rivers. A period of near normal or above normal rainfall in the northern and eastern North Island during earlyto-mid September may not be indicative of the season as a whole.

Spring temperatures are most likely to be near average

in the north and west of the North Island and about equally likely to be near average or above average in all other regions.

Spring will come with more southwest winds and occasional outbreaks of cold air as well as episodes of warm-to-hot air from Australia, particularly in eastern areas of both islands.

A prevailing area of high pressure near the North Island may lead to clear, cold nights and mornings and the potential for unseasonable frosts.

Seasonal wind strength is expected to be above normal, particularly when westerlies intensify, as predicted from the second half of September.

Coastal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) ranged from 0.1˚C below average to 1.1˚C above average during August. As El Niño becomes firmly entrenched in the climate system, the risk for the development of widespread marine heatwave conditions during spring is low.

Soil moisture is most likely to be below normal in the north and east of the North Island, near normal in the South Island, and near or below normal in the west of the North Island.

River flows are most likely to be near normal in the west of the South Island and near or below normal for all remaining regions of the country.

REGIONAL PREDICTIONS

Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty

• Temperatures are most likely to be near average (50 percent chance). A prevailing area of high pressure near the region may cause clear, cold nights and mornings and the potential for some unseasonable frosts.

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be below normal (45 percent chance). Although the first half of September will be unsettled at times, an increased frequency of high pressure systems near the region during spring will likely lead to longer spells of drier than normal conditions.

• Seasonal wind speeds may be stronger than normal.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be below normal (45 percent chance) while river flows are about equally likely to be below normal (45 percent chance) or near normal (40 percent chance).

Central North Island, Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Wellington

• Temperatures are most likely to be near average (50 percent chance). A prevailing area of high pressure near the region may cause clear, cold nights and mornings and the potential for some unseasonable frosts.

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be below normal (45 percent chance). Although the first half of September will be unsettled at times, an increased frequency of high pressure systems near the region during spring will likely lead to longer spells of drier than normal conditions.

• Seasonal wind speeds may be stronger than normal.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be below normal (45% chance) while river flows are about equally likely to be below normal (45 percent chance) or near normal (40 percent chance).

Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa

• Temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average (45 percent chance each). Frequent westerly winds may increase the chance for hot days (>25˚C) later in the season.

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be below normal (45 percent chance). Although the first half of September will be unsettled at times, an increased frequency of westerly winds will likely lead to longer spells of drier than normal conditions.

• Seasonal wind speeds may be stronger than normal.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be below normal (45 percent chance) while river flows are about equally likely to be below normal (40 percent chance) or near normal (35 percent chance).

Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller

• Temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average (45 percent chance each).

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be below normal (50 percent chance) as the region is generally sheltered from moisture during episodes of southwesterly winds.

• Seasonal wind speeds may be stronger than normal.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be near normal (45 percent chance) while river flows are about equally likely to be near normal (45 percent chance) or below normal (40 percent chance).

West Coast, Alps and foothills, inland Otago, Southland

• Temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average (45 percent chance each).

• Rainfall totals are about equally likely to be near normal (40 percent chance) or above normal (35 percent chance). Although the first half of September will be drier than normal across much of the region, an increase in moist, westerly winds later in the month may reverse the trend.

• Seasonal wind speeds may be stronger than normal.

• Soil moisture levels and river flows are most likely to be near normal (45 percent chance).

Coastal Canterbury, east Otago

• Temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average (45 percent chance each). Frequent westerly winds may increase the chance for hot days (>25˚C) later in the season.

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be below normal (45 percent chance). An increased frequency of westerly winds will likely lead to longer spells of drier than normal conditions, particularly from the second half of September.

• Seasonal wind speeds may be stronger than normal.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be near normal while river flows are about equally likely to be near normal (45 percent chance) or below normal (40 percent chance).

Probabilities (or percent chances) are assigned in three categories: above average, near average, and below average. In the absence of any forecast guidance there would be an equal likelihood (33 percent chance) of the outcome being in any one of the three categories. Forecast information from local and global guidance models is used to indicate the deviation from equal chance expected for the coming three-month period.

This is an extract of the Seasonal Climate Outlook published by NIWA.

In Memoriam –Dr Anthony Davoren

Honouring a life nurturing the understanding of water management in New Zealand

Dr Anthony (Tony) Davoren passed away peacefully on June 10 2023, aged 70. Tony was a luminary in the realm of hydrology, and left an indelible imprint on New Zealand’s water management landscape. His life’s work, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a deep sense of responsibility, has not only advanced hydrological understanding but has significantly influenced irrigation practices in this country.

Tony’s career included a notable early period as a research scientist with the Ministry of Works – Water and Soil division from 1976 to 1987, and work undertaken internationally. His affinity for water systems drove an academic journey that saw him earning his PhD with a specialisation in hydrology at Washington State University in 1982.

Recognising the critical role of irrigation in agriculture and ecosystem health, Tony directed his efforts towards researching the optimal use of water resources. His studies and work encompassed the intricate balance between irrigation demands, water availability, and environmental preservation.

While Tony’s contributions to hydrology were multifaceted, his 1983–2016 work within his own business, Hydro Services, stands out as a testament to his dedication to sustainable water use. Through rigorous analysis he not only highlighted the vulnerabilities to climate change within irrigated agriculture but also proposed innovative solutions that would equip farmers with strategies to adapt to these evolving conditions.

His innate ability to communicate complex hydrological concepts in simple terms made him an influential figure in shaping policies and practices that upheld both agricultural productivity and ecological equilibrium.

Tony’s influence and relationships extended beyond his research papers and extensive field work. As a businessman, he was a firm believer in collaborative partnerships. This was reflected in his life outside of work where he was a cricket fan extraordinaire. He was a mentor to his employees, affectionately known as Uncle Tony to many in his work family.

A pivotal aspect of Tony’s legacy lies in his mentorship of emerging hydrologists and irrigation experts. His commitment to nurturing the next generation ensured that his insights and values would live on. Although he is no longer with us his legacy continues to influence irrigation practices, and he is remembered as a key contributor to the IrrigationNZ Design Code of Practice and NZQA training qualifications.

Tony’s life and work serve as a vivid illustration of how one individual’s determination and vision can shape an entire field, reminding us that true progress is brought forth by the fusion of passion, knowledge, and a resolute commitment to the greater good.

Tony is survived by his wife Raewyn and children Bridget, Sondra, and Jeff.

IrrigationNZ is eternally grateful for Tony’s contribution to our industry, and offers sincere condolences.