IrrigationNZ: Out & About

NEW INTERIM/SET UP CE OF THE NEW WATER REGULATION BODY TAUMATA AROWAI, BILL BAYFIELD

Vanessa Winning and Ruth Spears had the pleasure of catching up with Bill Bayfield (previously CEO of Environment Canterbury) to understand the functions of the new water regulation body Taumata Arowai, and what the Department of Internal Affairs are focused on under the Three Waters framework. It was a chance to discuss the Water Services Bill and our submission prior to the oral submissions process and understand how the various water responsibilities work together. Mr Bayfield is a supporter of good irrigation, and has a huge amount of experience to draw on from local government, and this is an important cog in the wheel for infrastructure development that also impacts on the productive sector too.

FOOD AND FIBRE LEADERS FORUM

IrrigationNZ Chair Keri Johnston attended the Food and Fibre Leaders Forum in Hawke’s Bay on 12 March. The forum is made up of the chairs of the primary sector organisations. Pictured is Chair of the Federation of Maori Authorities (FOMA) Traci Houpapa, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and IrrigationNZ Chair Keri Johnston. The forum was hosted by Hineuru Iwi Trust at their irrigated cherry orchard to learn more about their strategy to ensure that their people “grow, thrive and prosper”.

CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION SUBMISSION MEETING

It was great to get some of the Canterbury and Otago schemes together for a pre-submission meeting on the climate change report – dialling in from across the country, we had a robust first conversation about the issues and opportunities the report provides for the irrigation sector. The submission will be a national one with irrigators, irrigation companies and schemes encouraged to provide their own submissions. Awesome to see collaboration, and much easier as we all get used to Zoom and Teams in our post-COVID working world.

WANAKA A&P SHOW 2021

IrrigationNZ CE Vanessa Winning was at the Wanaka Show on the 12th and 13th of March. We had our game where people must guess where the food is grown in New Zealand with irrigation to win a packet of Heartlands Chips. Ms Winning said it was a great event and opportunity to engage with members, industry representatives and the wider community. IrrigationNZ would like to make a special mention to Zimmatic and Plains Irrigators who supported us being there.

ON THE ROAD

Our Communications Manager, Ella Stokes, visited New Zealand’s largest outdoor medicinal cannabis farm earlier this month on the Kekerengu coast north of Kaikoura. See the article on page 14.