IrrigationNZ News Summer 2022

Keri Johnston Chair of IrrigationNZ

Looking forward to forward planning

Kia ora koutou and welcome to the summer edition of IrrigationNZ News.

I love getting my copy of our wonderful magazine in the post. The quality of content is superb – informative, and challenging, while presenting irrigation as the enabler and necessary tool that it is.

This time of year often incites a lot of reflection. It has been a big year for our organisation. Vanessa and her team have worked hard to ensure that, despite our size, we pack a mighty punch. Issues such as the

Water Services Bill, He Waka Eke Noa, the Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms, and the plethora of regulation changes that are in play at the moment are considerable. The impact that we are having in helping to shift and mold policy, ensuring the best outcome for our sector, is evident. I cannot thank our team enough for their mahi, passion, and drive.

2023 will be a big year for water, with regional planning going full steam to meet the National Policy Statement deadlines, Natural

and Built Environments Act (NBA) reforms continuing, and an election to spice things up a bit! Our focus will be on continuing to change conversation at a national level regarding irrigation and its essential place in food and fibre production in Aotearoa, helping meet greenhouse gas emissions expectations, and ensuring resilience in the face of changing weather patterns.

Water policy is complex, with many stakeholders having a vested interest. I recently read a quote from Krysten Sinema, United States Senator from Arizona, and it really stuck with me. She said, “we must all work together, focusing on our shared values and our common goals instead of our divisions, to secure our water future”.

Water policy will require real leadership, and we stand ready to do just that – lead for our sector. Here is to 2023.

Have a safe and happy summer!

Ngā mihi nui, Keri

FROM

Vanessa Winning Chief Executive IrrigationNZ

Circle of control and circle of influence

As we head into another summer and irrigation season, it seems as unpredictable as the last two seasons. Weather patterns and intensity have definitely changed over the last ten years. We’re experiencing more extremes, and the seasons are more noticeably merging into each other. It feels difficult to build resilience when you’re not sure what you’re meant to be building resilience for.

This also seems the way with the current policy focus we are contending with in Wellington. With the Government reneging on He Waka Eke Noa as partners, certainty around what the process and rules will be is lacking.

With the Resource Management Act (RMA) reform underway, and the current legislation now being divided into four parts, overlap and a lack of clear hierarchy make it hard to know where we will land and how long it will take. Even settings already in play and being enforced, such as intensive winter grazing, are still yet to be confirmed in terms of reporting and compliance.

I often talk about controlling those things we can control and influencing those you can influence.

At IrrigationNZ we influence where we can. We have had some good wins in areas where we have collaborated and provided practical solutions that meet desired outcomes – and most of the time those outcomes are desired by us all. We also try to control the things we can, such as our massive increase in training over the last year to get us ready for an increase in new design techniques, improved water efficiency requirements, and expected land use change. But we need to do more. We all have a role to play in influencing and controlling.

Over the next few months, and while you may get time with family and friends over

Over the next few months, and while you may get time with family and friends over the holiday season; increase your influencing skills.

Have key messages about your system, your impact, and what irrigation provides.

the holiday season; increase your influencing skills. Have key messages about your system, your impact, and what irrigation provides. Some messages I note regularly:

• precision irrigation leads to better outcomes for the environment as it means the plants get the right amount of water to absorb the nutrients with less surplus

• less than 20 percent of animal agriculture is under irrigation, and more than 90 percent of our fruit and vegetables need it

• all beer and wine production uses irrigation

• our parks, stadiums, golf courses, and retirement homes use irrigation and can improve in efficiency by improving design

• capturing and storing water will lead to better resilience to weather extremes for the whole community

• prudent irrigation enables land use change, lowers carbon emissions from our production process, and improves our communities.

Be open­minded to hearing what the various political parties are promising, and have a view. We will be preparing our election platform in the new year, and we will share it. We will feature all the parties in this magazine – starting with Shane Jones and NZ First this season.

At the same time, control what you can control; manage that precious water as best you can:

• increase your information gathering to make more informed decisions – know your numbers

• work with your neighbours on a catchment impact plan – reach out and learn from each other

• look for opportunities to build resilience on your farms and orchards

• test your systems and make improvements where needed

• talk to your accredited designers and see if there are improvements you can make

• work on your business and make plans for the future by taking control, focusing on what you can do, and making a plan to achieve desired outcomes.

IrrigationNZ: Out & About

Waterways Postgraduate Student Conference

Stephen attended the Waterways Postgraduate Student Conference where postgraduate students from the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University showcased their freshwater related research to the public, professionals, academics, and organisations interested in freshwater. IrrigationNZ contributed to the event sponsorship and awarded a prize to one of the speakers, Tara Forstner, a PhD Candidate. Tara was recognised for her presentation titled “Reconstructing the past: a review of hindcasting methods and their application to groundwater modelling”.

Hanga-AroRau, the Workforce Development Council Conference

Stephen and Julie attended the inaugural conference of Hanga‑AroRau, the Workforce Development Council for engineering and manufacturing. A large audience of participants engaged with discussions on career pathways, both in person and online. Topics included future workforce planning and diversity for employees within technical roles, starting in high schools and leading to on the job training opportunities. Irrigation technical trades fit into this model and a number of good connections were made with organisations supporting trainees across New Zealand.

Ballance Farm Environment Awards

Stephen and Vanessa enjoyed attending the Ballance Farm Environment Awards Evening held at Te Pae in Christchurch in November.

What a great opportunity to highlight a range of innovative and hard working people in our industry.

Amuri Visit

Vanessa (below, at left) and Stephen were hosted for the day in North Canterbury by Andrew Barton CEO (right) and the staff of the Amuri Irrigation Scheme. This was an opportunity to explore in depth the issues facing this scheme in both land use and water management challenges and see close up the role this scheme plays in supporting the vitality of this district. The interactions and benefits were outlined for the scheme, landowners and, Ngāi Tahu farming entities.

In Wellington

In October Vanessa and Keri (IrrigationNZ CEO and Chair) had a great two days in Wellington with a group of irrigation scheme CEOs. This group came to Wellington to represent a significant part of the country’s primary sector. Together they represent almost half of the irrigated farmland in New Zealand, covering 400,000 hectares, with well over NZ$2 billion in infrastructure, and supporting nearly 2,000 farms.

The days, which were organised by IrrigationNZ, included meetings with Hon James Shaw, Act Party ministers,and engagement with Hon Damien O’Conner. There were meetings with the Ministry for the Environment (MFE), the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Kanoa, Infrastructure Commission, and Pamu. It was fantastic that the irrigation schemes from Canterbury and North Otago made efforts to spend time in Wellington to ensure that those making decisions and laws understand their side of the story. Thank you to the politicians and policy makers who took time to meet with them.

AGM & Awards Evening

Our IrrigationNZ AGM and Awards Evening was held in Wellington in October. It was fantastic to host this event and catch up with our members in person after having to host it online last year due to Covid.

Further in this issue we talk to the Innovation in Irrigation award winners (page 20); the IrrigationNZ Ron Cocks Memorial Award winner Ian McIndoe (page 26). We also welcome our new Board members (page 8). An extract from the IrrigationNZ Annual Report detailing our Advocacy and Achievements is included on pages 10–11.

Pictured from left – Front row: Rebecca Whillans (ALIL General Manager), Mel Brooks (MHV CEO), David Seymour Leader of the ACT Party, Andrew Rodwell (NOIC CEO), Tony McCormick (RDR CEO). Middle: Susan Goodfellow (CPW CEO), Andrew Barton (AIC CEO), Andrew Mockfard (OW CEO), Brent Walton (WIC CEO). Back: Vanessa Winning (IrrigationNZ CEO), Mark Pizey (previous CPW CEO), Keri Johnston (IrrigationNZ Chair), Nick Daniels (BCI CEO).

New to the IrrigationNZ

IrrigationNZ welcomed two new board members recently; Emma Crutchley and Mark Pizey. Both Emma and Mark bring unique skill sets to our strong board of long term and new members. We caught up with them to find out more about them and their connections to irrigation.

EMMA CRUTCHLEY

What is your background?

I grew up on our family farm at Puketoi, in the southwest corner of the Maniototo in Central Otago. This is where I farm today with my husband Kyle and two children Evelyn (nine) and Reuben (seven). Like many children in rural Otago I went away to boarding school, then to Lincoln University to study agriculture.

Following this I spent two and a half years working as a research agronomist for PGG Wrightson at Kimihia Research Farm, just out of Lincoln. Subsequently I moved to Wellington for two years to work as one of two forage agronomists for Landcorp Farming (Pamu). This role gave me the opportunity to become familiar with the challenges and opportunities that face different pastoral farming systems across New Zealand.

My first passion is farming where we live in the Maniototo, and taking up the huge opportunity to take over the family farm. In 2009 I came home. This coincided with the development of the remainder of our traditional border dyke irrigation system to centre pivot irrigation systems. Today we farm just under 3000 hectares of hill country and flat with 475 hectares of irrigation. Puketoi is a sheep and beef breeding and finishing operation, mixed with cropping. I also spent six years as a director for our local irrigation company, being chair for the last two and a half years.

What is your earliest memory of irrigation?

My earliest memory of irrigation is playing in the dust created by the Ministry of Works scrapers when the Maniototo Irrigation Scheme was being developed in the mid­80s. I can vaguely remember the first water being delivered and the water flowing over the sills in what was then a state­of­the­art irrigation system. One of my clear memories is playing with the spiders that came out of the irrigation clocks; until one bit me! I grew up spending summer holidays lifting irrigation gates and setting clocks to schedule gate drops. To miss a gate drop, or to set it on ‘am’ instead of ‘pm’ was to miss growth for that area for the next 20 days. I will never lose appreciation for the technology we have today or for a centre pivot irrigation system.

Why is irrigation and freshwater management important to you?

Where we live in the Maniototo we have a 350mm rainfall. Even with the border dyke system, I remember experiencing the extreme droughts of the late 80s and early 90s; the feeling in my family from those challenges, the two minute showers, and one summer driving to Patearoa every couple of days to get drinking water.

Access to water for irrigation and domestic use provides a level of resilience for our individual farm business. However, often

missed in the narrative is the flow­on effect of public good it creates for the community, and the fundamental role this plays in the health and wellbeing of rural communities, and in our resilience in a changing climate.

Why did you apply to be on the IrrigationNZ board?

Irrigators and water users need representation at the table. New Zealand is incredibly diverse, and representation and advocacy need to come from all parts of New Zealand. The conversation around water use for irrigation and other uses can carry a negative tone in some circles. In the next few years there are a multitude of decisions that will be made in the regulatory space around water use, and it is important that a practical farming/irrigator perspective is part of these discussions. There is an opportunity to influence in a way that will result in positive outcomes for rural communities

What is the most important thing you have learnt about water management/irrigation?

Access to clean freshwater is a right that every New Zealander should have. The conversation is complex. The discussion around how we manage natural resources starts with people engaging in open and honest conversation and collaboration.

How are you going to contribute to the IrrigationNZ board? What do you hope to gain from being a part of the organisation?

I enjoy learning! I’m looking forward to gaining knowledge about the perspectives of irrigators across New Zealand, as well as bringing an Otago voice to the table.

Board

MARK PIZEY

What is your background?

My home is in Hokitika, and I have worked throughout New Zealand over the past 30 years. My most recent role has been as Chief Executive Officer with Central Plains Water, based in Christchurch. Most of my career has been in the extractive industries both in New Zealand and overseas. I am trained as an engineer, and most of my previous roles have included responsibility for environmental management. A significant portion of the work involves the treatment and management of water to address contamination.

What is your earliest memory of irrigation?

While studying in the USA in the late 1970s I became aware of centre pivot irrigation systems which dominated the wheat and pea growing landscape of eastern Washington State.

Why is irrigation and freshwater management important to you?

The human body is 60 percent water, and water is fundamental to the ecosystems that support our existence. If we do not get water management right the basics of life are compromised. Efficient and effective irrigation is a contributing factor in getting the management of water right and keeping the footprint of humanity as light as possible.

Why did you apply to be on the IrrigationNZ board?

I believe I have relevant skills garnered from a wide range of experiences, including the management of a large irrigation scheme and the operational management of water over a diverse range of environments. I believe I can bring a wider world view of the important role of good water management

to the IrrigationNZ board table. Irrigation will be fundamental to the continuation of New Zealand’s rural communities and the economies they underpin. The need for a long­term view on how this can be achieved should be the foundation of New Zealand strategies.

What is the most important thing you have learnt about water management/irrigation?

Heraclitus got it right 2,500 years ago when he posited that the only constant in life is change. Irrigation, like all other aspects of life, must evolve and change to meet challenges as they emerge.

How are you going to contribute to the IrrigationNZ board? What do you hope to gain from being a part of the organisation?

I look forward to working with the board in the development of strategies and interventions to support the agricultural sectors that irrigation supports.

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2021/2022 Advocacy and Achievements

IrrigationNZ has continued to track, analyse and advise on many aspects of water resources legislation across several government departments, with a particular focus on how the direction of travel in water policy affects the adoption of irrigation best management practices. Many of the policy programs that emerged in 2020/21 continue to be progressed in 2021/22 with some reaching implementation stages. We are really pleased with how well our contributions and collaboration is valued and our ability to help shape some pragmatic improvements in policies for the benefit of our members. Our relationships are strong with policy and implementation teams across many areas, including the Ministry for Primary Industries (Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures, Water Availability and Security), the Ministry for the Environment (Freshwater Farm Plans), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Dam Safety), Te Waihanga (climate adaptation), and Taumata Arowai (water services).

Shane Jones Former Minister of Regional Development NZ First party

Adaptation for a premium return –water storage is an absolute must

Irrigation, water storage, and dam development are critical to the future of our food industry. As weather patterns change, we must adapt, whether as investors, farmers, or regulators. Rather than joining the shrill voices preaching doom and gloom, adaptation will give a premium return in the face of climate change.

As the year draws to a close, farmers and other food producers face a political blizzard. These issues include further greenhouse gas regulations, a new planning regime, economic volatility, and the uncertainty brought by 2023 being an election year.

Successive governments have undertaken plans and strategies to boost resilience through irrigation and water storage. However, the political lip has moved faster than the fiscal hip. Investment is now more urgent in order to improve output and earnings from land with elite soil characteristics.

An example of this is the Northland/Tai Tokerau water storage initiative led by former National Party politician Murray McCully. The funding for this investment came from the Provincial Growth Fund. The reasoning was simple; harvesting and releasing water would improve Tai Tokerau land use outcomes.

The Matawii dam located near Kaikohe was processed through the fast track resource consent legislation. Unfortunately, the process was not as expeditious as the political architects envisaged. However, the project is nearing completion.

It is obvious that landowners will need to store more water. At a minimum, the regulations governing this activity need to be refined. Increasing the size and quantity of storage dams is a priority. Landowners should be given more scope to undertake such work

without Resource Management Act (RMA) consent, providing the work has been certified by an engineer.

Māori landowners are in an especially difficult situation as climate regulations and other changes are imposed on the primary produce sector. They can never sell their land due to the nature of the tenure and stewardship obligations. Water storage is an absolute must.

There is an ongoing role for the government to promote and facilitate the extension of water storage and irrigation. There will always be voices of dissent. However, maintaining our first world lifestyles requires first-rate water harvesting and irrigation.

In the post­Covid environment our export sector has to be turbo­charged. Tourism earnings are not likely to recover for quite some time. However, the nation still needs foreign exchange earnings. This comes principally from our primary producers.

There is an ongoing role for the government to promote and facilitate the extension of water storage and irrigation. There will always be voices of dissent. However, maintaining our first world lifestyles requires firstrate water harvesting and irrigation.

The costs associated with accessing

aquifers is prohibitive, as Māori landowners in Northland have discovered. They fear that the land they have retrieved through the Treaty process will become a stranded asset in the absence of reliable water supplies.

It has become fashionable in climate change politics to label the agricultural sector as laggards. Politicians fear being dismissed as climate sceptics. This makes them lukewarm supporters of water storage. The very people who plan to spend taxpayers’ money. Well, first we must earn that money.

The marriage of water storage and enhanced land use will be positive for rural areas such as Wairoa which have high quality soils. Fortunately, Minister for Economic and Regional Development Stuart Nash is a proponent of such outcomes.

The transition to intensive horticulture will provide employment opportunities and be a positive development for communities beset with long term social challenges. Infrastructure for water storage needs champions, processes, and promotion at the top of our political system.

The new planning regime released by Minister for the Environment David Parker needs to be subjected to intense scrutiny. Will it incentivise economic development and reduce the deadweight effect of excessive red tape? Hopefully it will boost economic dynamism and enhance the productivity of our primary produce sector.

Robert Welke Managing Director

Water Pumping Institute Adelaide, South Australia

From farm boy to Water Pumping Institute: what makes me tick

Robert Welke has 54 years’ experience in water pumping and hydraulics and is an energy efficiency consultant and teacher, principally in the irrigation industry.

CHILDHOOD

It’s been said that our childhood years mould what we become in later life. This was especially so in my case. I grew up in the post­WWII years on a 300­hectare mixed farm in mid­north South Australia (SA). My father was very innovative, and every piece of machinery that was purchased for our farm went through his “how can we make this do its job better?” process. Hence, right from a young age, I learned to challenge the status quo and come up with improvements; to make a thing more fit for purpose. I also learned that some manufactured products hit the marketplace without being properly tested.

As a result of this approach I learned mechanical engineering skills, and by ten years old I was welding, cutting, filing, and soldering in the farm workshop. My father bought me and my two brothers an automotive encyclopedia, straight from Detroit, USA. I studied this with great interest in my teenage years, hence I became a petrolhead in the US muscle car era, purely out of mechanical marvel.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

The attention to detail developed in my formative years had great influence in my later years. It is epitomised by the model dragster I built when I was 16 years old. It was based on a commercially available plastic Chevy 283 Engine Kit, and I built the rest from what I could scavenge on the farm. This 60cm long model was reverse engineered from photos of

American race car driver Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat, “Big Daddy”.

SETBACK

I have learned that setbacks in life are merely opportunities to change direction and improve one’s life.

I attended boarding college and went on to study for a Mechanical Engineering degree in Adelaide. My first real setback was that in 1967, during my second year at South Australia Institute of Technology (now UniSA), Australian university textbooks changed from imperial measurement to metric. I found that extremely disruptive and dropped out of degree studies at that point. I did later master metric measurement, which I now consider much better than imperial!

I went from adversity to opportunity by joining a fitting and turning apprenticeship, provided by Commonwealth Employment Services (CES). This cemented and improved my existing mechanical skills to a professional level. The interesting part is how this apprenticeship materialised. Given my degree studies background, the CES officer skipped the usual apprenticeship application process, and I commenced with the Engineering and Water Supply Department (now SA Water) the week after that interview in February 1969.

My career for the next 25 years was handed to me on a platter, without me even choosing who my employer was to be. I merely made the most of it!

BIG BREAK – ENERGY EFFICIENCY ROLE

Upon completion of my three­year (quick release) apprenticeship in January 1971, I was interviewed and given a choice of two roles within SA Water’s engineering staff; either drafting in the sewage branch, or assistant to the pumping engineer in the water supply department. I chose the latter with enthusiasm!

This was the first of the most amazing career opportunities I could hope for. South Australia is the driest state of the driest continent in the world, and I was responsible for monitoring the energy efficiency of SA’s extensive pumping and pipeline systems.. This involved efficiency testing of pumps up to 5,700 kW and pipelines up to 1.6m diameter. All of the expertise garnered in these times has been incorporated into Water Pumping Institute’s present training course, Pumping System Master Class.

PIPELINE EFFICIENCY TESTING

I quickly learned that it was NOT just the pumps that determined pumping system energy efficiency. Pipelines have more influence on pumping system efficiency. My role included regular Hazen­Williams coefficient (C) value tests on major pipeline systems.

As a result of interesting site test results, my passion grew for pumping hydraulics, which is my number one specialty today. This is reflected in my Pumping System Master Class course material.

SA Water had a hydraulics section, and I frequently found myself spending time there picking the brains of the best hydraulic engineers in the country.

In the 1980s I was given the task of identifying the cause of significant friction

losses in about 20 kilometres of 80mm nominal bore (NB) cast iron pipe which was supplying stock water in the Loxton Country Lands area. These pipes were originally laid in the 1930s as unlined cast iron pipe. In the 1960s they were cleaned and cement lined in­situ to extend their life.

My tests identified that a short section of cement lining had detached at the point where stock water flow meters were attached to the pipe after cement lining.

My recommendations resulted in 1m sections of pipe being replaced in about 12 places. This restored the pipeline’s original performance for a cost of about $10,000, staving off a possible $500,000 capital replacement.

MOTOR VEHICLE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Occasionally I was taken off pump monitoring duties and given other interesting tasks. In the late 70s the world was going through an energy crisis and dealing with rising fuel costs. The SA Premier, the late Don Dunstan, decreed that all SA government departments would reduce their vehicle fleet fuel consumption by 10 percent.

The technical side of that task fell to SA’s largest government department, SA Water, because of its abundant resources. A technical committee was established, and I became the Committee Technical Officer, gathering data. I equipped a modern fleet car with state­ofthe­art fuel economy monitoring equipment

and headed to a straight, flat country road. I performed vehicle energy efficiency tests with parameters such as varying tire pressure, windows up vs windows down, removal of radiator fan and sun visors. I had a ball, and quickly came up with recommendations which identified where the 10 percent could be saved, which were ratified by our department head. (Refer to SA Water Report Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Test, 1979 EWS 4505/79.)

This period of my career ignited an energy efficiency fire in me, and I have gone on to develop and apply these principles in all areas of my life.

FLOW METERS

I have a passion for flow metering of water.

My first experience with flow meters was in February 1971, when I assisted the pumping engineer with the commissioning of a 68" (1.7m diameter) magnetic flow meter for the Happy Valley outlet at Darlington. I was responsible for measuring the rate of change in water level of the four calibrated water tanks into which the metered water discharged.

The results showed that the flow meter was measuring at 30 percent slower than expected. I was astounded. This was my first exposure to water supply flow meter industry standards. That exercise resulted in half a dozen top engineers flying out from the UK, where the meter was manufactured, to observe this apparently unexpected performance, and make adjustments.

This reminded me of the poorly designed agricultural equipment my dad bought for the farm, and working on it to improve its performance.

From that day onward I have always checked the performance of new equipment as part of a commissioning process, never entrusting accuracy or performance to the supplying company. Such site commissioning results are included in a large database of equipment performance faux pas, many of which are referenced in my training courses as examples of what to look out for.

In 1975 I got to test another brand new flow meter. This one was a water leakage flow meter, designed to measure very low flow rates caused by leakage in water distribution systems. I checked this one in our Kent Town Workshops. It tested at 25 percent fast. This did not surprise me.

In the 1980s I was given technical responsibility for the 2,600 water diversion flow meters which SA Water used to measure diversion flows to irrigators from the Murray River or proclaimed area aquifers.

This came at a time when bore water from the Northern Adelaide Plains Aquifer was being metered for the first time. I set up a test rig at the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) approved test facilities at Ottaway Workshops to evaluate a 100NB propeller actuated flow meter commonly used for diversion metering. This meter was supposed to be accurate with 10 diameters of upstream pipework, but my tests indicated that this could never be achieved, and this flowmeter was subsequently withdrawn from service. (These tests are documented in my report Guidelines for flowmeter rehabilitation in the Northern Adelaide Plains, EWS 2122/80, June 1989.)

Such are my experiences with flow meters that to this day flow metering is one of my passions. Flow metering forms an important part of the content in the Pumping System Master Class, which emphasises how to accurately measure flow when testing pumps.

A NEW ERA

After 25 years of absolutely amazing work experiences my days with SA Water ultimately ended as the department downsized in the early 1990s.

I rescued myself from adversity by joining the irrigation industry in 1994. Initially I was technical officer of engineering for an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) company

Robert regularly tested pumps ranging from 100kW up to these 5,670kW units on the Murray Bridge Onkaparinga Pipeline. This 825/675 single stage pump lifts 1,970 l/s at 201m head.

designing and building packaged pump systems for the turf, agriculture, horticulture, and viticulture industries.

This was a real culture shock to me. I had grown up with engineered schemes designed to last 100 years, and now I was being asked to design for 10 years. I was able to bring a wealth of knowledge from SA Water, but the reality was that the irrigation industry didn’t want to pay for it!

I got used to the lower engineering standards of the irrigation industry, but have never accepted them. Over time I designed and built nearly 100 package pump stations, some of which I got to site commission in various places all over Australia and the Pacific Islands.

CHALLENGES BUILD CHARACTER

I had some good wins for this OEM, as well as some bad experiences. It’s the bad experiences which cause us to grow and improve the most. Like when a 300NB rubber expansion joint I designed into a dry well pump station failed after two years, and flooded the pumping station, putting three 175 kW Super Titan pumps and motors under water!

Rubber expansion joints exemplify the lower engineering standards of the irrigation industry. I later learned how to manufacture custom­built stainless steel flexible restrained dismantling joints and promote them to the irrigation industry, mainly through the Pumping System Master Class.

On another occasion, I was called out to

one of our irrigation pump stations that had two 175kW pumps on variable­frequency drives (VFDs). A pressure fitting was leaking. Being New Year’s Eve in a country town, only Mitre 10 was open, so I was restricted to replacing the fitting with a poly fitting. Two days later that fitting failed completely, spraying the inside of the pump station with a high pressure jet into the roof, deflecting off into a fine spray, and killing both the 175kW VFDs.

Someone found the renegade fitting and attached it to my office desk pin board with the words, “Rob’s $10,000 fitting”. I wasn’t fired for that, but I must surely have tested the boss’s limits! I never lived it down, but as a result, I raised my standards.

A DEFINING MOMENT IN MY CAREER

Due to our OEM’s largest client going into liquidation, our company went down with them in late 1999, again throwing me into the employment marketplace. Along came the knight in shining armour, a gentleman from Hydroplan named John Gransbury.

John had designed a 450NB pumping system for the Willunga Basin Water Company, pumping recycled water to vineyards. After 18 months the pumping system was discharging 15 percent less water. He had tested the pumps and found them to be OK. He phoned me out of the blue, knowing I had SA Water roots and good hydraulics analysis skills, and asked if I would do a friction test on the pipeline. I found that the 10km of pipeline had a biofilm issue which decreased

the Hazen­Williams coefficient value to 135, resulting in 15 percent decreased output. We pigged the pipeline and restored the pumping capacity.

Now I found that my SA Water experience had helped me to contribute and add value to the irrigation industry in ways I had never thought possible, and in ways which I enjoyed. Shortly after that, John asked me to work for Hydroplan, which I did for three years, mainly on pumping and pipeline systems. John taught me how to use EPANET, software used to model water distribution systems, which I still use today for more complex hydraulic analyses.

A SEA CHANGE

In 2003 my wife Sandy and I moved from Adelaide to coastal Queensland and established Tallemenco Pty Ltd as an independent consulting business. I subcontracted to a couple of firms, mostly in irrigation system auditing roles. Most of my work involved troubleshooting problematic irrigation systems.

I developed pressure and flow data loggers which I used to analyse pumping and distribution system issues in detail. This helped me to identify problems and determine their cause.

Nothing had prepared me for what I found. After working on SA Water distribution systems, I found the standards of the irrigation industry to be appalling. Every system I audited revealed substandard pump systems and under­performing pipe systems, most often with too small a diameter. And it wasn’t

Robert regularly friction tested major pipelines such as this pipe on the Murray Bridge Onkaparinga Pipeline system. Biofilm caused significant performance reduction over time, fixed with periodic chlorination.

just irrigation designers that were performing poorly, but also hydraulics engineers.

CRISES BRINGING

ABOUT CHANGE

After a run of productive years in systems analysis, the September 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) changed the whole world, and as money around the world dried up, so did consulting work. On top of that there were two floods and a drought in South East Queensland. I had to diversify my income stream.

Once again, I turned adversity into advantage. With little paid work available, I spent time developing a training course. Armed with my SA Water pumping and hydraulics skills and seeing the appalling state of the irrigation design industry, I wanted to contribute to improving the irrigation industry.

I developed the two­day Advanced Pumping & Hydraulics training course over a period of around 700 hours, using my own material and resources. Much of the resources were photos taken during my SA Water days. Assisted by River Murray Training, I began teaching this course online to irrigation

personnel throughout Australia.

I was enthused by the course feedback, which encouraged me to continue, and I continuously refined the course over several years.

A NEW OPPORTUNITY

In 2012 my wife and I pulled stumps in Queensland, sold up, and relocated to South Australia. I fell on my feet, with work coming from all directions. It was good to be back home!

I continued to run Advanced Pumping & Hydraulics training courses online. However, the age of energy efficiency (something I’d been implementing for 40 years) was now approaching, as shown by the Australian Federal Government offering rebates for energy audits in 2012.

My first project was energy audits for the abalone industry. Applying all I’d learned both in SA Water and the irrigation industry, I saved a number of abalone farms over $500,000 in annual pumping electricity costs in my first three years back in SA.

In 2015 I took a phone call from a stranger; John Hayes in New Zealand. He

wanted to know if I would train his clients in pumping and hydraulics. I asked what he wanted, he spelled it out, and the Pumping System Master Class was born. This course is like the Advanced Pumping & Hydraulics course on steroids! Its main theme is pumping system energy efficiency, otherwise known as sustainable irrigation pumping.

In 2021, after 50 years practicing as a paraprofessional mechanical engineer, I founded the Water Pumping Institute, an establishment which utilises my wealth of knowledge and experience in the water pumping and hydraulics world.

The Pumping System Master Class continues to be the most respected pumping training course in the irrigation industry, and has now reached over 650 people in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Europe and South Africa.

At the end of the course, most people say it changes the way they see pumping systems. When I hear that, I feel content that I’ve helped another person in the irrigation industry to see pumping systems how they really are, with the benefit of my practical experience, successes, failures, and adversities.

Pivotal.

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

Amuri Basin receives funding for farmer-led project to boost water quality

After nearly two years of planning and applications, Amuri Irrigation Company (AIC) has secured funding to implement Amuri Basin: Future Farming, a new threeyear project they will lead with partners Environment Canterbury and DairyNZ.

The project supports AIC farmers to develop a strategy to enable future farming in the Amuri Basin which goes beyond the regulatory minimums. The Amuri Basin encompasses the towns of Culverden, Rotherham, and Waiau in North Canterbury.

The project has a combined focus on the environment (freshwater, climate, and biodiversity), farm profitability, and community resilience.

The $2.5M project will be funded through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), with MPI investing $1.49M and AIC, DairyNZ, and ECan contributing annually in cash and in­kind.

The project is split into the following three workstreams:

ONE: Developing a farmer engagement programme

AIC will split shareholders into small, trusted groups of landowners and farmers based on their location in the catchment. The groups reflect the sub­catchments and drainage networks within the AIC scheme command area.

These groups will be supported by facilitators, with input from technical experts (as required) to address specific catchment challenges. The aim is to have all landowners attend group meetings to contribute to outcomes for the whole catchment. Working collectively will support farmers to set and achieve self­determined action plans to improve water quality outcomes. This approach encourages fresh ideas from emerging leaders while considering the knowledge and experience of current leaders.

AIC chief executive Andrew Barton says, “Farmers in the Amuri Basin have a track record of working together to achieve better outcomes for the community. The efforts of local farmers to improve on­farm practices resulted in the Pahau River being awarded the National Rivers award in 2017. We know that we need to continue to improve water quality, and this government funding will allow us to harness our strong community to do that and a whole lot more.”

TWO: Develop a spatial risk-based integrated resource management system

AIC has gathered a significant amount of data on the Amuri Basin (land use, hydrology, water quality) over many years. This workstream will allow AIC to take the next step and develop a tool which utilises this technical information to identify the most cost­effective, localised solutions for improving water quality.

This project will enhance freshwater ecosystem health by assessing the most appropriate methods for reducing nutrient losses. This may include edge­of­field techniques, such as riparian corridor restoration, sediment control, wetland enhancement/construction, managed aquifer, and stream recharge.

THREE: Explore and pilot a localised price-based incentive mechanism

In the final phase of the project, AIC will apply an integrated approach to incentivising sustainable resource management in the Amuri Basin by designing and piloting a localised market­based incentive mechanism. This will provide a financial incentive for farmers to optimise water and nutrient application.

This mechanism may provide a potential financial model for catchment mitigation investment by reinvesting revenue into catchment­scaled mitigations, and may also offer a blueprint for wider application for policy framed to incentivise change.

A successful project will bring accelerated improvements in ecosystem health, while ensuring profitable farming and community resilience in the Amuri Basin. Farmers will have a greater understanding of cultural matters, biodiversity, efficient and real­time resource benchmarking, and water quality. Lessons learned from the project could be replicated throughout New Zealand, especially those within irrigated environments.

AIC will build on the knowledge it holds to develop risk­based work plans for the enhancement of our resources and will be well positioned to participate in the 2024 Plan Review process and the consent renewal in 2033, which are important regulatory processes for AIC and farmer shareholders.

Milestone reporting to MPI is required to illustrate the progress and achievements of the project workstreams. Much of this information will become available on the project webpage which is soon to be launched.

AIC has some specific farm system modelling underway to explore the likely

impacts of farming in a lower nutrient environment and the range of solutions available to achieve project outcomes while retaining on­farm profitability.

Monitoring and evaluation form important aspects of the project. Monitoring will be undertaken routinely throughout the project to understand what drives behaviour change.

The project is looking to accelerate the pace of work that is being undertaken to date, managed by AIC and external partners. Experts and technical resources will be utilised to assist in the project workstreams. These include scientists who have partnered with AIC for many years around water quality, hydrology, and the health of our water ways. For the pricing mechanism this is new work so we will be preparing a scope of works/request for proposal and going to market to see who we can partner with to develop this.

In all aspects, this project is centred around the shareholders farming within the Basin and the local community. Their contribution to and ownership of the project is of critical importance.

IrrigationNZ honours product that supports efficient water use in 2022 Innovation in Irrigation Award

The Innovation in Irrigation Award, sponsored by Ballance Agri-Nutrients, is given every second year in conjunction with our other awards. It celebrates, encourages, and promotes innovation, alongside the positive initiatives being undertaken in our communities with, and as a result of, irrigation. This year was the sixth time it was awarded. Three finalists are selected from the entries, and the winner is selected by a panel of independent judges. Entries can range from technical innovation; to projects and research that enhance or improve the environment, to projects and research that have led to improved community outcomes.

This year the three finalists were Robinson SDI, Emrgy, and H2Ortigator. H2Ortigator was selected as the winner. The judges noted the deciding factor which got them over the line was the ability to achieve shortterm productive advantages combined with efficiency and long-term sustainability all in one product, which is rarely achieved in the irrigation industry.

Brendan and Hayley Hamilton are the developers of H2Ortigator. We spoke to them about their product and where it all began.

Please explain what H2ortigator is and how it works? H2Ortigator is an irrigation and plant protection unit for young replacement trees and vines in commercial horticulture (apples, grapes, kiwifruit, avocado, and more).

H2Ortigator provides protection and creates ideal soil moisture conditions for the replacement tree or vine, increasing early growth, and decreasing replacement mortality, all while saving water.

The unit works in conjunction with, and is controlled by, the existing fixed irrigation system (drip or micro sprinkler). It accumulates water at the tree and continues to provide precise, ultra­low rate irrigation directly to the replacement tree’s rootzone for up to three days once irrigation for the mature tree has ceased.

What is your background? Where are you based? Do you have previous experience in irrigation?

I (Brendan) studied physical geography and soil science at Massey. I worked a number of years for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as a biosecurity officer at the border and offshore. Following that I moved to sunny Hawke’s Bay where I began working for Fruition Horticulture, a horticultural consultancy and technical services provider. My role focused on providing a soil moisture monitoring service (neutron probe and continuous soil moisture monitoring), and providing irrigation scheduling to orchards and vineyards throughout the region.

How did H2Ortigator come about – where did the idea come from?

The idea for H2Ortigator began to germinate when we moved to a lifestyle block in Hawke’s Bay and experienced several very dry

summers. I was planting native trees on the property and having limited success keeping them alive, let alone growing. I could care for most of the trees’ needs but I struggled to keep up with watering requirements, particularly when bore levels began to drop and water became scarce during the peak of summer. Fast forward to the next season; my patient wife was putting up with an assortment of oddlyshaped test containers and watering devices scattered around the garden as the idea began to take root and evolve.

Being immersed in the orchard and vineyard soil moisture scene and observing the struggles orchards and vineyards had with replacement trees and vines, it was a natural transition to apply the concept to commercial horticulture.

Many seasons, tests, experiments, and minor breakthroughs later we had developed a unit that saves water, protects the tree and soil, increases tree and vine survival and early growth, fits in with the orchards daily practices, and works in conjunction with the existing irrigation system and irrigation scheduling.

How long has it taken you to develop it?

We have been working on H2Ortigator for about six years. The pace has picked up in the last few seasons due to larger scale commercial trials and offering a commercial service for the 2022 season.

What area of your knowledge has grown most in this process?

How long the path from concept to commercial product is. Each step along the way takes a significant amount of time and resources, particularly when you are dealing with seasonal growing and only get a chance to field test and gather data for a short period each year.

H2Ortigator

Who has been involved with the development?

H2Ortigator has been developed primarily by myself and my wife Hayley. Trial orchards and vineyards had significant input, which has been invaluable and assisted with the final product design.

A much­appreciated Callaghan Innovation project grant allowed us to scale up prototyping and field trials across a larger number of crops and regions. Our manufacturer, ES Plastics in Hamilton, provided expertise in design and production.

Have you had experiences that made you want to develop something that had efficient water use?

Water is one of the most important resources we have. Hawke’s Bay has seen its fair share of dry (and wet!) seasons in recent years. I have observed the effects of restricted water consents, irrigation bore columns that won’t prime because levels are too low, and the

We are most proud that we have designed something to look after the little guys! Replacement trees and vines get a rough deal when they are placed into a mature orchard or vineyard.

gives them not only a fighting chance, but helps create strong, healthy, resilient trees and vines using less water and staff time.

Evening: James Gardner (National Farm Sustainability Manager Ballance Agri-Nutrients), Brendan Hamilton (H2Ortigator), Keri Johnston (IrrigationNZ Chair), and Hayley Hamilton (H2Ortigator).

devastating effects that this can have on the fruit and vegetables which growers work so hard to produce.

During summer’s peak, in orchards and vineyards I would too often see the depressing sight of young replacement trees and vines suffering water stress. Those that survived were often stressed and stunted, doomed to underperform, and never reached full potential amidst their mature counterparts.

Many things conspire against a replacement tree in a mature orchard but the most significant is ineffective irrigation. In a mature orchard using micro sprinklers, up to 90 percent of the applied irrigation can fall outside the small rootzone and cannot be used by the young replacement tree. This means wasted water and poor growth. And so began H2Ortigator’s transition into commercial horticulture.

Is H2Ortigator used in orchards?

Yes. 2022 is the first commercial season for H2Ortigator. We have units in apple, kiwifruit and avocado orchards and vineyards throughout Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, and Bay of Plenty.

There are also ongoing trials in orchards and vineyards that have been running for a number of seasons.

What are you most proud of regarding the system you have developed?

We are most proud that we have designed something to look after the little guys! Replacement trees and vines get a rough deal when they are placed into a mature orchard or vineyard. H2Ortigator gives them not only a fighting chance, but helps create strong, healthy, resilient trees and vines using less water and staff time. We are also proud of the fact H2Ortigator has been designed and manufactured in New Zealand.

What are your future plans/goals?

Spreading the H2Ortigator word! We want to expand and to trial in other high value horticultural crops. There are a few more developments on the cards for H2Ortigator including a low­rate, long duration fertigation unit that will allow tailored nutrients to be applied to each tree or vine. We are also working on a project to incorporate further recycled plastic into the units.

2022 Innovation in Irrigation Award Finalists

ROBINSON SDI

Gary and Penny Robinson came across the dripline technology while visiting the World Ag Expo in the USA. The Robinsons saw the longevity in the system and they wanted to bring the technology back to New Zealand and see if it worked in New Zealand farming systems.

Drip irrigation is an efficient water and nutrient delivery system for growing crops. It delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant’s rootzone, in the right amounts, at the right time, so each plant gets exactly what it needs, when it needs it, for optimal growth. Water and nutrients are delivered across the field in pipes called drip lines, which feature small units known as drippers. Each dripper emits drops containing water and fertiliser, resulting in the uniform application of water and nutrients directly to each plant’s rootzone, across an entire field. After trialling a subsurface irrigation system last summer on part of their 160­hectare lease block, Robinson SDI are collecting data to compare with traditional irrigation systems in order to back up their observations with evidence­based results.

The couple is participating in a six­month farming project which examines how the next generation of farmers use innovative approaches to improve their practices. 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, along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

EMRGY

Emrgy’s innovative micro hydropower turbines have been specifically designed for use in irrigation races. They can assist irrigation schemes to tap into an unused energy resource to reduce grid energy reliance and lower electricity expenditure, while meeting environmental targets. The first turbines are already deployed as a pilot at Morven Glenavy Irrigation Scheme.

After receiving their award at the 2022 IrrigationNZ Awards

Can I swim here? Check the water quality before you go

Each summer from November to March, Environment Canterbury monitors more than 100 of Canterbury’s popular swimming sites – from the inland lakes to the beaches, and from Kaikoura down to the Waitaki.

Canterbury has some stunning swim spots to cool off during our hot summers. However, it’s vital that you stay informed about water quality so you can make informed decisions about where is good for you, your family and your pets to swim.

The Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website – lawa.org.nz – displays results for Canterbury and other regions and is updated regularly.

Water quality can change swiftly, so it’s important to check the LAWA site before you visit a swimming spot.

Our monitoring programme

Over the summer, we monitor for E. coli and cyanobacteria (toxic algae) at freshwater sites (lakes and rivers) sites and enterococci bacteria at coastal sites.

If one of these contaminants is found at a level that may affect public health, our scientists pass this information on to the health authorities at Te Mana Ora (a branch of Te Whatu Ora Waitaha/Canterbury Region) which may issue a health warning.

If a swim site is generally unsuitable for swimming, permanent signage will be erected at the site.

Tips for summer

• Check water quality information before swimming at lawa.org.nz/swim

• Avoid swimming for 48 hours after heavy rain or prolonged rainfall.

• Follow any warning signs.

Know how to spot potentially toxic algae

Cyanobacteria is a naturally occurring algae with the potential to bloom and produce toxins that can harm people and animals.

Dogs are especially at risk, as they are drawn to the musty smell and may eat or lick it.

In rivers, cyanobacteria looks like dark brown or black mats, with a slimy or velvety texture and a musty smell. In lakes, it is often suspended in the water, with a cloudy and discoloured look.

Not all algae in our freshwater are harmful, but if you are in any doubt about the water quality, it’s best to stay away from it.

• Avoid eating fish and shellfish taken from areas where health warnings are in place. Boiling food and water does not remove the toxins.

• Know how to look out for cyanobacteria (toxic algae) If in doubt, keep out.

• Stay away from potential contamination sources such as pipes, culverts, and flocks of birds.

Reducing nitrogen loss on your farm

Farmers across Canterbury are being asked to do more to reduce nitrogen leaching. We’ve identified some of the most impactful and cost-effective actions you can take to lower nitrogen loss and improve farming efficiency.

The story of increasing nitrate levels in Canterbury’s fresh water can be traced right back to the start of farming on the plains more than 150 years ago.

But it’s the rapid intensification of land use over the last 40 years that has led to the worrying concentrations we see today.

It’s taken time for nitrate levels to rise – and it will take time for those levels to fall again.

The Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan was about farming to limits, and nitrogen loss reductions have been written in a way that gives farmers time to make improvements on farm.

Planting catch crops after winter grazing on forage crops

Sowing catch crops after grazing winter forage crops can serve to mop up excess nitrogen that has been left in the soil, reducing the amount of nitrate that may be leached during one of the highest risk periods of the year.

In Canterbury, oats, ryecorn, triticale, wheat and barley can all be effective catch crops.

Catch crops should be sown as soon as practicable after the grazing of winter forage crops. This will allow them to utilise the nitrogen in the soil and produce a cost-effective spring feed for livestock.

Soil nitrogen testing is also recommended to help inform management decisions.

Find out more

For more information, visit our guidance at ecan.govt.nz/n-loss

Good Management Practices are supported by the industry for efficient farming that manages environmental impacts – including nitrogen loss to water (ecan.govt. nz/gmp). To further minimise nitrogen losses on farm, we look towards well-researched mitigation tools and techniques.

In 2021, Environment Canterbury commissioned a report to review various options for nitrogen loss mitigation. While many of these options have the potential to reduce nitrogen leaching, the report identified four that stand out as effective and practical options for farmers, offering the best value for money, industry support, and availability.

There you can find full reports on nitrogen loss mitigations, as well as links to the research conducted by the Foundation for Arable Research, Plant & Food Research, Irrigation NZ and DairyNZ.

Irrigation scheduling during shoulder seasons

Managing irrigation to optimise plant growth but minimise the risk of drainage and loss of nutrients to water should be the goal of irrigation at Good Management Practice.

During the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn), when evapotranspiration rates are lower, the full point trigger for irrigation can be different than during the main dry season. Soil moisture can be managed slightly lower to allow for as much rainfall capture as possible when rainfall events occur.

This will require the operator to regularly review any changes in the soil moisture, weather forecasts, and crop requirements, to ensure irrigation targets are adjusted accordingly and recorded in their soil water budget.

Irrigation NZ has resources on how to use soil moisture technology and soil water budgets to support crop growth whilst achieving good environmental outcomes.

Incorporating plantain in pasture

Plantain has been shown to dilute nitrogen in cow urine, which may reduce nitrate leaching in grazed soils. It can be adopted into pastoral systems with the appropriate management techniques.

DairyNZ has been leading plantain research and there are various research trials underway investigating the positive environmental effects.

Farmers wanting to use plantain as part of their nutrient management plan will need to use an approved cultivar according to the DairyNZ Plantain Cultivar Evaluation System, and the DairyNZ Assessing Plantain On Farm tool to determine the proportion of plantain in the diet. See dairynz.co.nz/plantain for more information.

Conducting soil nitrogen testing

Knowing the amount of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) in your soils is valuable for understanding how much nitrogen fertiliser to apply – potentially benefiting both your wallet and the environment.

The recent development and adoption of PMN testing means it is available at your soil testing laboratory. Submit soil samples prior to fertiliser application to measure the soil nitrogen availability and match it to crop requirements.

Plant & Food Research has been developing the tools and research on soil nitrogen testing and has produced guidance to support the use of this mitigation strategy on farm.

While this work has focused on arable systems, further research is being undertaken on the use of nitrogen testing for the pastoral sector.

Treating and disposing of your household wastewater

Rural properties not connected to a reticulated sewerage network need to manage their own wastewater. We’ve published new guidance on wastewater treatment systems, with advice on how to ensure your system is well maintained.

Living rurally in New Zealand often means not only sourcing your own drinking water, but also finding a safe way to treat and dispose of household wastewater.

Most farm dwellings in Canterbury will have what’s known as an on-site wastewater treatment system. The most common system for single households is a septic tank and land application system, but there are a range of different primary and secondary treatment systems available.

While systems can differ in design and capacity, they all serve the same purpose – ensuring that wastewater is managed effectively to prevent degrading water quality, which can lead to significant cultural impacts and affect local drinking water supplies and the local environment.

Maintaining your wastewater treatment system

If you live in a farm dwelling, you probably have an on-site wastewater treatment system. But when was the last time you had it inspected?

Leaky and poorly maintained systems can allow improperly treated wastewater to escape into the nearby environment – potentially endangering your health.

Most systems will require a regular inspection and maintenance at least every 12 months, and primary treatment systems like septic tanks will need to have sludge and scum pumped out around once every three years.

However, if you notice an issue – like a sewage overflow, murky or smelly puddles around your treatment system, or even a broken tank lid – you should get your system inspected immediately by a suitably qualified technician.

Find out more on wastewater treatment systems

We’ve recently published new guidance on wastewater treatment systems on our website at ecan.govt.nz/wastewater

There you can find more information about the different types of wastewater treatment system, the permitted activity rules under which these systems can operate without resource consent, more tips for maintaining your wastewater treatment system, and a guide to buying or selling property with a wastewater treatment system.

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. www.ecan.govt.nz

Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company seeks CEO for the first time

The continuing broadening focus that water delivery covers, constant change, and varied challenges has resulted in the Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company (LWIC) establishing a chief executive role.

LWIC origins go back to 1974 when the then border dyke system was constructed by the Ministry of Works. It was bought by the current shareholder owners in 1989, who use the water for the purpose of irrigation. The gravity­driven scheme’s command area has grown from 16,000 hectares to the present 20,000, which encompasses land use of 81 percent dairy and dairy support, 9 percent sheep and 10 percent cropping and horticulture. Water is drawn from the Waitaki River, which provides the potential for a year­round supply. As a result, the scheme has a high level of reliability and an adequate supply of water to supply its over 200 shareholders.

LWIC sits across the boundary of two regional councils – Environment Canterbury (ECan) and Otago Regional Council (ORC) – and therefore liaises with two regulatory bodies. Its main connection is with ORC, being located south of the Waitaki River.

Not only does the scheme supply water to its farmer shareholders, it has historical contracts for the supply of municipal water to the town of Oamaru, and industrial water to the Alliance plant in the district. As a result, along with Morven Glenavy Irrigation Company, it is the largest water supply company in the district.

LWIC Board Chairman Rhys Hamilton said the scheme currently

relied on a small team of staff with an operations manager, who have served the scheme well over many years. However, with challenges on­farm increasing and increasing expectations from Government, community, and regional councils, having someone to lead the scheme through these varied challenges is crucial.

“The scheme has experienced significant changes in recent years, and more are coming. A key driver is enhancing environmental performance, and due to changing regulation and societal expectations, efficiency considerations are important too.”

Rhys said LWIC prides itself on supplying low­cost water to farmer shareholders, providing them with flexibility and choice in the way they manage their land and its use. Supplying affordable water remains a key goal. However, the requirement for modernisation of systems and infrastructure means that the scheme will have to manage priorities and adjust to expectations over the coming decade. That is where increasing the capabilities of the management staff comes in.

“In the immediate future we will be placing more focus on challenges such as continuing the transition from border dyke to spray irrigation, reducing water leakage and by­wash through upgrades of canals/races, and introducing more piping.” He said these changes will not only affect the scheme, but also the farmers in the scheme. “The key point is the coming decade will be one of continuous change and improvement.”

Water from the Borton’s Ponding Area is used with the help of gravity for the LWIC Scheme, built in the mid to late 1970s. This water supplies the Pukeuri Freezing Works and Oamaru’s drinking water, and irrigates the Waitaki Plains –such as around Papakaio.

Irrigation Leader

Colorado -Nebraska Irrigation Tour 2023

Itinerary

Sunday, September 10

Arrive in Denver, Colorado

Monday, September 11

Tour of Agri-Inject and the Irrigation Research Foundation, Yuma, CO

Tuesday, September 12

Upper Republican Natural Resources District, Imperial, NE and Besler Industries, Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District, Cambridge, NE

Wednesday, Septeamber 13

Central Platte Natural Resources District, Grand Island, NE

Wednesday, September 13 Reinke Manufacturing, Deshler, NE

Thursday, September 14

Husker Harvest Days Irrigated Working Farm Show, Grand Island, NE

Friday, September 15

Central Platte Natural Resources District, Grand Island, NE Water for Food Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

Friday, September 15 Arrival, Omaha, NE, Final Destination

A career in irrigation and the places it can take you

Every two years the IrrigationNZ Ron Cocks Memorial Award is presented. The Ron Cocks Award recognises a person who has made a significant contribution to irrigation in New Zealand. J.R. (Ron) Cocks was a Mid Canterbury farmer, and a pioneer, visionary, and leader in farming affairs. His greatest legacy to New Zealand was his leadership in water issues. The Memorial Award acknowledges that legacy and encourages others to follow his leadership.

In 2022 the recipient of the award was Ian McIndoe. Ian is certainly no stranger to the irrigation industry and has been a big part of developing programs still utilised today. He told us about his journey.

I got into irrigation almost by accident. I studied irrigation engineering at Lincoln College (now Lincoln University) as part of my agricultural engineering degree, but was heading for a career in hydrology. After I finished my study, one of my lecturers suggested I get a job with Bisleys in Christchurch as they had a well drilling and irrigation division. That was where I really became interested in wells, pumps, pivots, and all things irrigation.

When I was offered a hydrology position with the Ministry of Works in Wellington, I chose to stay with Bisleys. I ended up in Saudi Arabia building dairy farms in the desert, where I was working on things like electric pivots, line shaft pumps, and fertiliser injection, well before they became fashionable in New Zealand.

On returning to New Zealand, I joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and did a lot of irrigation design for farmers, including for the Applefields orchards. I also did on­farm design for some of the Ministry of Works and Development (MWD) schemes including Waiau­Balmoral, Kerikeri, and Waimea East.

In the mid 1980s MAF appointed me as their national water resources specialist. I carried out various studies for MAF to help ensure that water would be available for agriculture, primarily irrigation. My supervisor at the time was Grant McFadden. One of the first jobs I had was helping to prepare evidence for the Rakaia Conservation Order hearing. That type of work was the beginning of routinely using computer modelling to compare water supply and irrigation demand, something that Terry

Heiler had developed for the Glenmark Irrigation Scheme.

While I was doing the design for Applefields orchards in Canterbury I wrote a rudimentary computer program to do the shelterbelt irrigation as it was very complex and time consuming to analyse manually. I then extended the program to help do block design.

That start in using computers for design in the 1980s led me to initiating and being the irrigation designer behind the development of the Irricad software. Irricad has now become the most widely used irrigation design software package in the world.

In the mid­late 1990s my colleagues and I did several projects aimed at improving the design and management of irrigation systems. These were mostly funded by MAF through Grant McFadden, Don Bagnall, and others. Two documents that came out of that initial work were the New Zealand Irrigation Manual (mostly written by John Bright, Tony Davoren, and me) and The Irrigation Guide (written by Bob Engelbrecht, Dave Attewell, and myself).

We realised we needed an industry body to represent irrigation as we were struggling to get traction with the improvements we were looking for. The old NZ Irrigation Association had gone into recess in the mid 1980s. In 1999 I got a group of people together to resurrect the NZ Irrigation Association – Grant, Bob, John, Tony, and Dave. We elected Bob as the chair, managed to get the funds from the old NZIA, and got moving. So, that original committee was the start of what IrrigationNZ is today. I spent 16 years on the board and enjoyed every minute of it.

At the end of 2003, John and I set up Aqualinc Research Ltd, which we have now been operating for about 19 years. With the support of the very talented people on our staff, I am proud that we have been able to contribute to improving water allocation and use throughout New Zealand. We have helped to develop water policy, provided technical support for irrigation scheme development, through to solving irrigation challenges for individual farmers.

In April 2004, to help improve irrigation efficiency, we started developing codes of practice and design standards. While I wrote most of the design code, we had a team of industry people reviewing and advising on content – Peter Gant, Paul Donaldson, Dan Bloomer, Steve McNally, Tony Davoren, Dan Norman, and Ron Dalley. We also started the outlines of the initial training programmes. About the same time, Dan Bloomer was working on the irrigation evaluation code.

Over the last 20 years or so, I have taken a deep interest in irrigation efficiency. It is probably the most widely discussed yet most poorly understood subject in irrigation. That has resulted in me spending a lot of time in consent hearings, plan hearings, the Environment Court, and even the High Court as an expert witness.

Something I have really enjoyed is helping the irrigation industry with complex design problems – things like sorting out multiple irrigator and pumping systems. Mistakes were being made and it was rewarding to be able to offer solutions.

I have seen a lot of changes in irrigation through my career. When I started, borderdyke irrigation was the most widely used method. Most of the spray irrigation was aluminium hand­shift, end­tow, or side­rolls. Travelling booms like Roto­Rainers and softhose guns were just becoming available, and drip irrigation (using microtubes) was being introduced on orchards.

The technology changed quite rapidly. Microtube irrigation progressed to drippers and driplines. Micro­sprinklers were introduced onto orchards. Roto­Rainers and hard hose guns became very common. Centre­

pivots started to be used more from the 1990s and have now replaced most of the borderdyke and a lot of the travelling irrigator systems. Recently, we are seeing more use being made of solid­set (fixed­grid) irrigation and some sub­surface drip.

In my opinion, the three methods that particularly stand out in terms of the ability to provide the most efficient application of water using current technology are centrepivots, fixed grid, and subsurface drip. They allow precise control of water application and have the added bonus of requiring very little labour to operate.

Where the irrigation industry is changing most rapidly now is in the integration of irrigation equipment with sensors to optimise operation and control. Irrigation control systems now allow for full remote control of pivots and other equipment, such as pumps, fertiliser injectors, pressure sensors, flowmeters, soil moisture sensors, and climate stations. These systems can be operated via the internet on a mobile phone, PC or laptop. The next generation of sensors has

the potential to make irrigation a completely automated process.

As electronic systems and associated software have become more reliable, real­time measurements are now used to determine crop water needs. Irrigation infrastructure can be operated to apply water where and when needed based on those measurements.

For the last few years, I have had the pleasure of teaching irrigation design (mainly hydraulics) to our students. It has been an opportunity to give back knowledge that I have gained over the years. There are some very talented people in the industry, and we will need every one of them to meet our water challenges.

I am easing out of project work these days and am mainly providing mentoring and guidance to the younger people in our industry. I intend to stay involved in irrigation for as long as I am able.

Technology for efficient irrigation management

To

09-916 0094 Christchurch: 03-348 1293 info@watersupply.co.nz www.watersupply.co.nz

Ian McIndoe receives the Ron Cocks Memorial Award at the 2022 IrrigationNZ Awards Evening.

Innovation the key to the world’s first zero fossil fuel orchard

Ambitious to do something about climate change, Mike Casey has created the world’s first zero fossil fuel orchard, located in Central Otago. They will shortly be harvesting their second crop of fossil­fuel­free cherries.

Forest Lodge Orchard’s entire commercial operation is powered by electricity and via power that is generated and stored on the farm using solar and batteries, from New Zealand’s first electric frost fighting fans to irrigation, tools, and vehicles.

Mike is currently trialling a converted electric tractor and expects delivery of New Zealand’s first electric tractor next year. He said it is important not to let perfection be the enemy when it comes to making changes on­farm.

“We need to start by looking at the choices we make for things we can control, like the equipment we use on our farms.

I have gone ahead and done everything I can do to eliminate reliance on fossil fuels, but farmers can also adopt a step­by­step approach if they want to start going down the same path.”

One option for gradual change is to replace older equipment at the end of its lifespan with new electric equipment, said Mike.

“I know that not everyone can replace everything all at once, especially if they are not starting from scratch as we did, so I think another way to look at it is to go electric when things need replacing.”

“For the full electrification of everything on­farm there is an incremental payback of 7 years and a full payback period of 13 years.”

The orchard harvested its first crop of fossil­fuel­free cherries last year. Mike said the key to improving the payback of

GSI Partners Christchurch director Sean Lysaght (left), Vero executive manager of rural insurance solutions Sonya Whitney, and Forest Lodge Orchard’s owner Mike Casey worked together to create an innovative insurance policy which covers Mike’s 100 percent electricity-powered cherry orchard for losses relating to power cuts.

electrification and solar energy is marketing a premium product that consumers are willing to pay more for, and backing this up with hard evidence.

To help other farmers with this, Mike has created a new NZ0 certification which is independently audited by AsureQuality. This certification has strict rules around fossil fuels which means that food producers cannot offset their emissions but instead need to provide evidence of change regarding fossil fuel use.

“This is a vital part of providing consumers with an authentic certification because the words “carbon neutral” do not necessarily mean that the consumers are getting a sustainable product.”

Mike said setting up a fully electric operation included finding an insurance product that would cover the risk of power cuts to his electric frost­fighting fans during the vulnerable spring growing months when young cherries must be protected from the hard frosts in Central Otago.

To be completely fossil­fuel­free, Mike wanted to avoid using a diesel­powered backup generator. He struggled to find an insurance provider that would protect his business against the risk to his crops posed by power cuts until he started working with GSI Insurance Partners Christchurch director Sean Lysaght and Vero to create an innovative insurance policy that met his unique needs.

“When you are determined to create real change and do it on a large scale you need to remove the blocks that might stop others from following you.”

When Sean started working with Mike to create an insurance product to fit the unique circumstances, he needed to find an insurance underwriter who would be willing to think creatively about the situation.

“We approached Vero, and they were willing to collaborate with us to create a new and innovative insurance policy that would cover Mike for any loss of product due to power cuts,” said Sean.

After spending around 18 months fine­tuning the insurance policy, which used interruption cover as a base, Sean and Vero created a solution that fits Mike’s unique situation. Sean believes more farmers will be seeking tailored insurance solutions in the future as they move towards implementing sustainable farming to mitigate environmental issues.

“I am always keen to share what I have done with others. If we can plant a seed of change then the climate will thank us later.”

I am always keen to share what I have done with others. If we can plant a seed of change then the climate will thank us later.

Stephen McNally Principal Technical Advisor IrrigationNZ

Day of 8 billion –looking to the future

In amongst the busy roles we have within the food and fibre industries, I feel it is important to pause and recognize an incredible global milestone reached on 15 November 2022; it was the birth of the 8 billionth person into the current world population.

For me this is a milestone to contemplate. I was born in the mid 1960s, and in my lifetime the global population has grown from around 3.3 billion to the current 8 billion; a 240 percent increase.

“The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity’s shared responsibility for the planet.”

– António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, 2022

This date was determined by the United Nations modelling of global population growth. While it took the global population 12 years to grow from 7 to 8 billion, it will take approximately 15 years – until 2037 –for it to reach 9 billion, a sign that the overall growth rate of the global population is slowing. The expected peak population, followed by a leveling out at around 11 billion, will occur in the 2080s.

The parallel for New Zealand is that in the 1960s we boasted a population of around 2.5 million and in 2022 we have 5.1 million. Our rate of growth over the same period being 200 percent is, as you’d expect, lower than the global average.

These excerpts from the UN resonate with me and are cause to celebrate the role we have as food producers while also acknowledging the challenges we face as the

World population by region, including UN projections. Future projections are based on the UN’s medium-fertility scenario.

(Source: HYDE (v3.2); Gapminder (v6); UN (2022) • OurWorldInData.org/world-population-growth • CC BY)

“Over the past 50 years, the increase in global food production has outpaced population growth. This rapid expansion of agricultural production was a profound achievement, but one that has come with high environmental costs … Smart policies are needed throughout the food system to move towards sustainable practices that preserve biodiversity and that help to mitigate climate change and adapt to its environmental and other impacts, while ensuring access to safe, sufficient, affordable and nutritious food and the enjoyment of a diversified, balanced and healthy diet for all.”

– UN DESA Policy Brief No. 140: A World of 8 billion

world continues to grow.

To try to put the data in the above graph in perspective, New Zealand would be a mere pixel on the Oceania curve, at 0.06% of the world population. Based on New Zealand trade estimates it has been claimed we contribute to the diet of 40 million people.

Punching above our weight, that’s a positive contribution to 0.5% of the world population.

Fulfilling the role we play in meeting the demand for food production while staying within the capacity of our natural resources and also meeting consumer expectations is a joint responsibility.

TRAINING MOVEMENTS: EFFORT, ENERGY, AND ADVANCEMENT

IrrigationNZ has continued to make qualification courses available to the irrigation sector. Student uptake of both the NZ Certificate of Irrigation Design and NZ Certificate of Irrigation Performance Assessment was bolstered across 2021 and 2022 by the government fees fee program. There has also been renewed uptake of the Blue Tick Accreditation water measurement training unit standards. The candidates in these programmes have moved beyond the traditional agricultural irrigation employees and now include people working in commercial horticulture and urban irrigation, such as golf courses and retirement villages. Geographically, the students are spread right across North and South Islands. It is extremely satisfying to see the efforts from candidates and the dedication to achieving these qualifications. While some of the teaching programs were impacted by COVID restrictions, a combination of face­to­face and online tutoring was used. The assessors who are working through the assignments from over 100 candidates are indicating the quality of material they are assessing. To quote one of our assessors, “I enjoy doing the marking. Some of the students’ thinking does stretch the mind and that’s good”.

SUITABLY QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED

Making qualifications available and seeing candidates nearing the successful end of their training programmes has highlighted the variation of requirements across our regional councils regarding what “suitably qualified” means, especially in relation to wording in policies and consents for freshwater. There are very few specifically developed and managed qualifications, other than at university level, for the irrigation and freshwater management industries.

IrrigationNZ is really pleased to see the acknowledgement by regional councils of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) training processes for both certificates and unit standards. There is also recognition of the more informal but equally relevant on­farm training days where participants receive attendance certificates that reflect the particular topics they have addressed. This all adds to the confidence that water users and the regulators have that good management practices are being adopted.

There are, of course, some exceptions and variations to the way qualifications are seen in regions. In some cases, the market is being left to establish who is competent and who is not through word of mouth and a buyer beware approach. This is based on the assumption that damaged reputations will be sufficient to sort the suppliers and practitioners. IrrigationNZ believes this is not an acceptable way to view the market and the role of qualifications. Relying on poor performance to lead to less market support is a very risky approach and inconsistent with the demands of the community on management of

our freshwater resources.

IrrigationNZ will have a further suite of training programmes available in 2023. We hope to see continued uptake of these opportunities which reflect and bolster the efforts made by our industry to achieve best practice.

WATERWAYS POSTGRADUATE STUDENT CONFERENCE

The Waterways Postgraduate Student Conference was held on 8 November 2022. This event allows postgraduate students from the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University to showcase their freshwater related research to the public, professionals, academics, and organisations interested in freshwater. IrrigationNZ was pleased to contribute sponsorship and a prize for a speaker at the event.

NEW ZEALAND’S RESEARCH SCIENCE AND INNOVATION FUTURE PATHWAY

IrrigationNZ has recently joined with a group of primary sector bodies working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to further engage on how New Zealand plans for and funds its research science and innovation programmes. In March of this year IrrigationNZ submitted its thoughts and recommendations on a green paper issued by MBIE which contained their initial questions on matters such as Crown Research Institute (CRI) working relationships, competitive versus base funding methods, and communication of science outputs, including the incorporation of the principles of mātauranga Māori. Although other organisations also submitted on the green paper, the engagement from the primary sectors was less than expected, so a specific working party approach has been initiated. The aim of this consultation process will be to produce a white paper that will assist the government in making long term decisions on Research, Science and Innovation (RSI). One of IrrigationNZ’s key points was the lack of a strategic plan across New Zealand research which has led to very skilled scientists competing for funding and gaps and overlaps due to an isolated approach to research. IrrigationNZ also identified that funding was not particularly linked to outcomes for end users of research, and that external communication and engagement

from the science community was somewhat limited to within research organisations rather than to the wider community of end users. This engagement process will be ongoing into 2023.

The term ‘white paper’ refers to a published statement of government policy or strategy. They often include the reasons for, and some details of, planned legislative change. The term ‘green paper’ refers to government consultation on policy.

HE WAKA EKE NOA (HWEN)

The HWEN partnership group presented a response to the government’s changes to the proposed pricing mechanism that the HWEN partnership agreed on in May 2022. It was disappointing that the Government, as a member of the partnership group, changed components that shifted the tight balance that had been negotiated over the previous two years. The partnership submission presented a united view on key areas. All partners are considering the submission and will provide additional views which take into consideration the sector­wide approach. IrrigationNZ approved the joint submission and provided their own feedback based on key areas affecting irrigation.

We are hopeful that the Government will reverse its changes and embrace a discussion on the climate change targets which were originally out of scope.

You can find our submission on our website.

WATER AVAILABILITY AND SECURITY (WAS)

IrrigationNZ has been regularly engaging with the newly formed WAS team based at the Ministry for Primary Industries. We were delighted to meet two new members reporting to Mary McCulloch, the manager of the team. Dr MS Srinivasan has been appointed as Principal Adviser and brings extensive prior knowledge of water issues in New Zealand gained through his work on the 2021 WAS report. Amanda Thornton, appointed to a senior role, brings a wealth of government policy experience to the team.

Work is underway identifying the critical elements of the work programme to deliver on the recommendations of the WAS report. Essentially, it needs to establish a focused water strategy for New Zealand that considers multiple water users across our regions as we

face increasing pressures from climate change. The WAS programme is one of the initiatives highlighted under the priority actions of the National Adaptation Plan.

NATIONAL ADAPTATION PLAN FOLLOW ON

IrrigationNZ has engaged in several highly informative discussions with Te Waihanga the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission arising from their role in drafting the infrastructure chapter of the National Adaptation Plan. One particular point of discussion is the concept of looking at irrigation infrastructure in a critical irrigation lifeline categorisation for future risk planning.

The implications of the role of Te Waihanga within the National Adaptation Plan and the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act review suggest there is an opportunity to consider the role of irrigation infrastructure, particularly irrigation water storage and supply schemes, as a critical lifeline infrastructure.

Designating an irrigation scheme as a critical lifeline would elevate its status within government regulatory processes to give it the same status as other important infrastructure assets within New Zealand for strategic planning. This could help force more positive consideration of long term national and community level risk, resilience, and adaptation to climate change, as well as extreme events such as floods and seismic activity. This would require readiness reporting, which is potentially no greater obligation than current fiduciary expectations of irrigation infrastructure management boards.

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR PLANTATION FORESTRY (NES-PF) SUBMISSION

Broadly, IrrigationNZ is supportive of the review of the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES­PF). Both native and plantation forestry are integral to the environmental, social, economic, and cultural wellbeing of communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. However, forestry also has negative impacts on these factors, particularly on the mauri and the availability of water for agricultural and horticultural production. Reduced water quality and quantity due to excessive forestry activities will mean less output, fewer jobs, and further multi­faceted impacts on our communities.

As an example, these effects have been demonstrated through the plantation of exotic forestry surrounding the greater Kakanui River catchment in North Otago. The river and its surrounding land have large areas of significant indigenous vegetation, which is important for both flora and fauna, and of spiritual significance to Te Runanga o Moeraki.

The plantation of exotic forestry in the greater Kakanui catchment resulted in less available water for stream runoff and for groundwater recharge. Indeed, studies have shown a reduction of annual water yield between 30–80 percent following exotic afforestation. Inevitably, this will have a significant impact on water availability for agricultural and horticultural activities.

IrrigationNZ’s submission highlighted that if adopted, Forest Management Plans will need to create consistency to align with both the National Policy Statement on High Productive Land 2022 (NPS­HPL) and the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS­FM). It will be inefficient and confusing for landowners and local governments to have multiple, potentially conflicting, directives on how best to plan for the management of land use change.

REGIONAL POLICY STATEMENTS UNDERWAY

In conjunction with Federated Farmers and the Wairarapa Water Users Society, IrrigationNZ has made a submission on the Greater Wellington Regional Policy Statement Change 1. The Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has taken the opportunity in this essentially urban development focused planning instrument to incorporate the principles of the National Policy Statement on Freshwater, including Te Mana o Te Wai. IrrigationNZ felt this process was a reflection of the complexity of incorporating the objectives of multiple policy directives into quite complex planning tools. The risk identified was that there were potential conflicts between urban development pressures, a lack of consideration of the newly launched national policy statement on highly productive land, and the myriad of expectations under freshwater management policies. The resultant plan change suggested the community would be presented with challenges in meeting the balances needed in food production in the Wairarapa, particularly considering increasing constraints of reliability of freshwater supply. Aspects such as the National Adaptation Plan, which specifically highlights the need for a national water strategy, are at risk of being overlooked in such a plan change process.

FRESHWATER FARM PLAN (FWFP) Freshwater farm plan exposure draft regulations

Work to draft the freshwater farm plan regulations has been ongoing since the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) freshwater farm plan team’s last update in September. The next step will be to share the exposure draft of the freshwater farm plan regulations with key people at regional councils (December).

From late January, MfE are planning targeted consultation with primary sector groups, a wider range of regional councils, tāngata whenua, as well as environmental groups. This will be via targeted workshops rather than written submissions on the exposure draft (the workshops will be held when people are back at work following the summer break).

Because of the technical and detailed nature of the exposure draft regulations, MfE are focusing on people and organisations that have previously engaged in developing the regulations.

MfE will be issuing further communication before the end of the year with more information on who will be invited to take part in the targeted consultation, and likely dates for workshops in the new year.

Effective mitigation systems to manage contaminant losses

Nutrients, sediment, and microbial contaminants are mobilised from urban and agricultural landscapes and enter streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. These contaminants can degrade water quality, ecological health, and cultural values. The aim of the research done by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) on mitigation systems is to provide effective tools to enable landowners to manage their contaminant losses. The work includes research on the performance of various mitigation systems, including riparian buffers, protected or enhanced natural wetlands, and constructed wetlands. The latest advice on riparian buffer performance from NIWA is presented below.

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM, 2020) provides updated directions on how freshwater should be managed under the Resource Management Act (RMA, 1991).

Regional councils and territorial local authorities (TLAs) are

required to give effect to the NPS­FM and the RMA through consultation with communities and the development of policies, rules, action plans, and limits on resource use.

Regional councils and TLAs are required to assess the current state of freshwater ecosystems and identify necessary actions to achieve the desired future state of those ecosystems, should the current state be degraded. Work with Māori and resource users then follows to implement actions in a reasonable and agreed timeframe.

In some instances, it is likely that changes in land use and land management practices will be required to reduce the loss of contaminants from land. However, widespread adoption of mitigation systems could reduce the need for large­scale, economically adverse land use changes. Mitigation systems are nature­based solutions, like riparian buffers and wetlands, that remove or retain land­based contaminants before they reach sensitive freshwater ecosystems.

Scientists in NIWA’s mitigation systems programme are leading the development, testing, and design of effective mitigation systems, and assisting with their implementation and ongoing performance assessment.

Riparian buffers need to intercept and transform contaminants as they move from land to freshwater environments.

(Photo: Stuart Mackay, NIWA)

MAXIMISING RIPARIAN MITIGATION

Design principles

What do riparian buffers need to do to reduce the need for major land use change?

Riparian buffers need to intercept and transform contaminants as they move from land to freshwater environments.

How is this achieved through design?

Contaminants move from land to freshwater via different hydrological flow pathways. Sediment and microbial contaminants are generally mobilised from land in overland flow resulting from rainfall events. Some nutrients are also bound to mobilised sediment or can be transported in overland flow in particulate form. In contrast, dissolved nutrients, including nitrate and phosphate, leach from soils into groundwater and are transported to nearby streams, rivers and lakes as interflow, shallow groundwater, and deep groundwater.

Riparian buffers composed of grasses often do an effective job of trapping sediment in overland flow. Grass buffers will be most effective when they are tall and dense, and the grass sward is maintained.

Riparian buffers with woody trees and shrubs are best for removing dissolved nutrients from shallow groundwater as their roots extract dissolved nutrients to support growth. The riparian root zone may extend several metres below the ground surface, which increases the proportion of groundwater that is intercepted, compared to shallow­rooted grasses.

The best riparian buffers are those that combine a grass buffer at the field edge with trees or shrubs closer to the stream, and flexible sedges on the stream margins. This is the basic design that NIWA and industry bodies such as DairyNZ recommend to landowners. The mix of grass and woody vegetation types enables interception of multiple flow pathways. Wetland sedges are

recommended for stream margins due to their tolerance to periodic inundation and drag imposed by flood flows.

Including wet spots or wetlands within riparian buffers is also beneficial. Wet organic soils, especially those planted with wetland grasses or sedges, may be effective at removing nitrate from water, through a process called denitrification. A slow flow of water through wetland areas is desirable to enhance soilwater contact and the denitrification function. Slow flow also encourages the deposition of sediment and associated contaminants within buffers, which reduces input to the stream.

Protecting wetland areas from disturbances, such as grazing, vehicle crossings, or vegetation removal, is recommended to enhance their mitigation functions.

How wide should a buffer be?

Our research indicates that a buffer width that is about 10 percent of the length of the hillslope draining to the stream channel is ideal. On average we expect this to trap about 75 percent of sediment in runoff. And it will also trap nitrogen and phosphorus that are bound to that sediment. The 10 percent rule of thumb was developed for rolling hill country and may not be applicable on very flat or very steep land. In these cases, we

recommend making the buffer as wide as is practical.

Where riparian soils have high clay content (C > 30 percent), the effectiveness of riparian buffers to reduce sediment loss to streams may decrease because clay particles will settle less readily than those of coarser grain size. This is an area where more research is needed.

Co-benefits Shading

Dense plantings of trees and shrubs shade streams, which keeps water temperatures cool. This is essential to support aquatic life such as fish and aquatic insects that are vulnerable to thermal stress.

Shade can also reduce the growth of nuisance algae and aquatic weeds, and increase the relative abundance of native aquatic plants.

A simple rule of thumb is that riparian plantings should grow to create a dense screen and be as tall as the stream is wide to create enough shade for these benefits. This will create shading of around 70 percent. The longer the length of stream corridor with riparian planting that creates shade of 70 percent or more, the more likely it is that water temperatures will be kept cool.

Riparian buffers with woody trees and shrubs are best for removing dissolved nutrients from shallow groundwater as their roots extract dissolved nutrients to support growth. (Photo: Stuart Mackay, NIWA)

Carbon sequestration

Riparian buffers can store significant amounts of carbon as the vegetation grows. They do this by removing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis.

NIWA’s best estimates at present are that a one­hectare area of riparian buffer planted in actively growing native shrubs and trees sequesters up to about 5.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

In contrast, crops that are harvested and pasture grasses that are grazed sequester little or no carbon because the biomass is removed regularly.

Biodiversity opportunities

Riparian buffers can include a diverse range of native flora, including rare or threatened species as appropriate. Buffers with native plantings are likely to provide important habitat for native wildlife, especially birds.

Native sedges on stream margins create bankside cover for fish and all riparian vegetation can provide leaf litter to support stream food webs. Tree branches that periodically fall into streams and rivers also provide structural habitat for aquatic life.

Aesthetics

Riparian plantings enhance landscape aesthetics, and, potentially, property values.

Productive buffer concept

Taking land out of production to create effective riparian buffers can be costly, but there is potential to generate economic returns from buffers to offset their costs. However, note that some types of productive buffer can have limited carbon sequestration benefits if vegetation is frequently harvested (as described for crops and pasture grasses above).

Grass buffers at field edges can be cut for seasonal silage or haymaking, if they are accessible. Summer cutting is likely to help reinvigorate grass buffers at a time of year when there is lower risk of runoff, and it will also recycle the nutrients trapped in the grass back into the farm system.

Commercially valuable trees and shrubs can also be used to create productive buffers. Options include planting rewarewa for a honey crop, planting and harvesting willows, poplars, bananas, and some native species such as mahoe for use as fodder crops, and planting totara for timber and essential oil production.

CURRENT AND PROPOSED NIWA RESEARCH

Our latest research on riparian buffers includes the development and testing of:

• a tool for monitoring network design to measure the freshwater benefits of riparian buffers

• a property­scale variable width buffer design framework

• a national hydrological flow path explorer tool to guide mitigation system siting and design

• a process­based model to predict stream shade and water temperature associated with riparian planting designs.

We have also recently updated NIWA’s riparian management training course. Our future research will focus increasingly on:

• measuring and modelling performance of these systems in collaboration with stakeholders

• developing tools and guidance to inform best placement of these systems in the landscape, and how to optimise performance

• working to ensure that mitigation systems are included in resource limit setting processes and included in integrated catchment models.

Freshwater scientist Fleur Matheson leads NIWA’s research in the developing, testing, and design of effective mitigation systems.

(Photo: Lana Young, NIWA)

Left: Grant Wills and Karo Preston’s farm is 215 hectares effective, milking 780 cows. (Photo: Lana Young, NIWA)

Below: NIWA scientist Fleur Matheson with farmer Grant Wills on his family’s property in the Waikato region. (Photo: Lana Young, NIWA)

CASE STUDY

Grant Wills and Karo Preston operate a 780cow dairy farm on their 244­hectare property at Walton in the Matamata­Piako District in the Waikato Region.

They applied for a 30 percent subsidy to help with the costs of an initial riparian planting project on their farm.

“We divided the property into five sections and decided to plant one section each year, over five years,” Grant said. “But now we’ve actually moved beyond our five­year plan and are self­funding extra riparian planting projects where we can see they’re needed.”

There is extensive fencing of streams and tree planting across the farm. In riparian areas there are grasses and native tree and shrub plantings. There is also protection of wetland areas.

Grant and Karo have widened their riparian buffers extensively in some places to take in and protect slumping and eroding hillslopes, which will help to keep this material from moving downslope and into their streams.

On one steep riparian slope near a stream they are trialling plantings of rewarewa and other bee­attracting native shrubs. Fencing off

slopes has reduced stock losses arising from stock becoming bogged in streams or falling down hills.

Grant and Karo have enjoyed working with NIWA and encourage other farmers to investigate the science and benefits behind riparian planting and mitigation systems.

“It’s easy to make decisions on a farm if it is science­based, and NIWA has got the research and science behind it. Therefore I have full confidence that going into a project like this, it is going to be good for the environment and good for the farm.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The productive buffer work was funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) via DairyNZ.

Mitigation work generally has been funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) via research programmes, via Strategic Science Investment Funding (NIWA), and from fee-for-service work done by NIWA for DairyNZ, Overseer Limited, MPI, and various regional councils.

Left: Grant Wills reckons about 18,000 plants have gone into the ground at the dairy farm property. (Photo: Stuart Mackay, NIWA)

Freshwater research news

The Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management is a teaching and research centre based at both the University of Canterbury (UC) and Lincoln University (LU). The Centre offers a Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, and a PhD in water resource management, and teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate water papers at both universities. Now in its 11th year, the Centre has growing numbers of academic staff, postgraduate students, and research projects. It is refreshing the water resource management postgraduate qualifications for 2023.

Among active research streams at the Centre is Dr Leanne Morgan’s groundwater research group, made up of Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)­funded projects in sea level rise, with Irene Setiawan (PhD candidate, LU), Amandine Bosserelle, and Connor Cleary (PhD candidates, UC) looking at the impact of sea level rise on coast aquifers and communities. Another MBIE­funded project is looking at groundwater recharge from braided rivers, with Alice Sai Louie (PhD candidate, UC) and Christy Songola (Masters candidate, LU), and two additional Masters student projects completed in 2021. Another project, with Tara Forstner (PhD candidate, UC), in collaboration with GNS Science, explores hindcasting a groundwater system to pre­European conditions, incorporating indigenous records of natural conditions..

The Waterways Centre Director, Professor James Brasington, specialises in geospatial modelling of river systems. He has developed a state­of­the­art airborne lidar facility at Water ways, using the first sensors of their kind in the southern hemisphere. James supervises several students who are using geospatial data to model river processes, addressing issues such as the impact of flood harvesting on sediment processes (Justin Rogers, PhD candidate, UC) and the use of machine learning to model flood inundation (Martin Nguyen, PhD candidate, UC).

He also supervises Postdoctoral researcher Justin Stout (UC) who is about to start on a two year MBIE­funded project that aims to develop new lidar and image processing technologies in order to derive seamless, high fidelity models of river and coastal systems. James is also leading work on Fish Futures, a five year MBIE programme that aims to understand the effects of climate and land use change on river dynamics, and the associated impacts on both native and exotic fish communities. They are advertising for a new postdoctoral researcher and PhD student to work on this exciting project.

Dr Ed Challies works in the field of water policy and governance. Ed’s work is currently funded through the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, MBIE’s Endeavour Fund, and the Ministry for the Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund. His work addresses catchment groups and community­based management in urban

and rural contexts, and social­ecological feedbacks in freshwater management. His recent and current PhD supervision covers research in urban water governance (UC PhD candidates Rachel Teen and Tyler McNabb), flood resilience (UC PhD candidate Unnathi Samaraweera), and social practices of water use (LU PhD candidate Julie Clarke).

Two new academic staff joined Waterways in early 2022. Dr Shelley MacDonell is a hydrological scientist whose work focuses on headwater catchments, aimed at a better understanding of water delivery to catchments, including timing and source contributions. Dr Issie Barrett completed her PhD in restoration ecology, investigating scenarios where communities remain in a degraded state following successful habitat and water quality restoration. Her passion is the practice of river restoration; Karina Kelly (Masters candidate, UC) will be undertaking her research in this area.

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Farm Dairy Effluent Design accredited companies have the expertise to design and build a dairy effluent system that meets the expectations of regional rules throughout New Zealand.

WATER MEASUREMENT ACCREDITATION

Councils are aiming for national consistency in water metering, measurement and the reporting of water use data. Engaging ‘blue tick’ accredited companies will help ensure work is in line with manufacturers’ specifications, meets industry best practice, and ensures accuracy in the reporting of data back to councils for future decision making.

IrrigationNZ are proud to support our Accredited companies, leading the industry in irrigation design, and product service and delivery. Find a full list of accredited companies at www.irrigationaccreditation.co.nz

Seasonal climate outlook December 2022–February 2023

OUTLOOK SUMMARY

La Niña continued during November and a marine heatwave developed in Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastal waters with sea surface temperatures 1.1˚C to 1.7˚C above average. Both will influence the summer climate.

Summer air pressure is forecast to be higher than normal over and to the south of the South Island and lower than normal north of the country. This will likely result in an easterly quarter air flow anomaly and fewer westerly winds over the three months.

Summer temperatures are about equally likely to be near average or above average in the east of both islands, very likely to be above average in the north of the North Island and the west of both islands, and most likely to be above average in the north of the South Island. More sub-tropical northeast winds may result in more frequent hot days (>25˚C) for inland and western parts of both islands. Conversely, a reduction in northwesterly “foehn” winds will likely mean fewer hot days for eastern areas.

Summer rainfall is about equally likely to be near normal or above normal in the north of the North Island and the east of both islands, most likely to be near normal in the west of the North Island and north of the South Island, and most likely to be below normal in the west of the South Island. Warmer than average regional seas are expected to fuel occasional heavy rainfall events; however, during periods of high pressure, dry

spells will occur, particularly about inland and western parts of both islands. A dry spell is possible from midDecember to early January. The risk for dryness and drought is elevated about the western and lower parts of both islands, especially the South Island, inclusive of Otago, Southland, and the West Coast. New Zealand’s risk for ex-tropical cyclone activity is normal-to-elevated through April. These systems can cause flooding rainfall, strong winds, and coastal hazards.

Soil moisture levels are about equally likely to be near normal or above normal in the north of the North Island and most likely to be near normal in all other regions.

River flows are equally likely to be near normal or below normal in the west of the South Island, about equally likely to be near normal or above normal in the east of the North Island and north of the South Island, and most likely to be near normal in all other regions.

REGIONAL PREDICTIONS

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.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty

• Temperatures are very likely to be above average (70 percent chance). More sub-tropical winds and marine heatwave conditions will result in high heat and humidity at times. There may be similarities with last summer.

• Rainfall totals are about equally likely to be near normal (40 percent chance) or above normal (35 percent chance). Low pressure systems are forecast to drop down into the region with some regularity, which may increase the risk for occasional heavy rainfall.

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

Central North Island, Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Wellington

• Temperatures are very likely to be above average (65 percent chance). More easterly-quarter winds and marine heatwave conditions will result in high heat and humidity at times.

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be near normal (45 percent chance). There is an elevated risk for dry spells as fewer westerly winds are expected. However, low pressure systems may bring occasional heavy rain from the north.

• Soil moisture levels and river flows are most likely to be near normal (50 percent chance).

Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa

• Temperatures are about equally likely to be near average (45 percent chance) or above average (50 percent chance). More onshore winds and marine heatwave conditions may lead to higher humidity levels, more cloud cover, and warmer overnight temperatures. Fewer north-westerly winds may limit the number of hot days (above 25˚C).

• Rainfall totals are about equally likely to be near normal (35 percent chance) or above normal (40 percent chance). More frequent onshore winds may lead to more wet days (more than 1mm of rain). Occasional tropical moisture plumes are also possible, particularly for Gisborne and northern Hawke’s Bay.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be near normal (50 percent chance) and river flows are equally likely to be near normal or above normal (45 percent chance each).

Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, Buller

• Temperatures are most likely to be above average (55 percent chance). Marine heatwave conditions will result in high heat and humidity at times.

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be near normal (45 percent chance). There is an elevated risk for dry spells, particularly in Tasman, as fewer westerly winds are expected. However, low pressure systems may bring occasional heavy rain from the north.

• Soil moisture levels are most likely to be near normal (50 percent chance) and river flows are about equally likely to be near normal (45 percent chance) or above normal (40 percent chance).

West Coast, Alps and foothills, inland Otago, Southland

• Temperatures are very likely to be above average (60 percent chance). More easterly-quarter winds and marine heatwave conditions will result in high heat and humidity at times.

• Rainfall totals are most likely to be below normal (50 percent chance). Due to La Niña, more frequent offshore winds will result in extended dry spells, elevating the risk for extreme dryness or drought like conditions. Low rainfall may also occur around the hydro lakes. However, the region should remain aware of the potential for a tropical moisture plume in January or February.

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

Coastal Canterbury, east Otago

• Temperatures are equally likely to be near average or above average (45 percent chance each). Fewer north-westerly winds may lead to fewer hot days (above 25˚C), although more frequent onshore winds may contribute to more cloud cover, warmer overnight temperatures, and higher humidity. There may be similarities with last summer.

• Rainfall totals are equally likely to be near normal (40 percent chance) or above normal (35 percent chance). More frequent onshore winds may lead to more wet days (more than 1mm of rain). Occasional tropical moisture plumes are also possible, particularly for North Canterbury. Conversely, nearby anticyclones could increase the risk for a dry spell or two during the season, especially in the south.

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

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

The New Zealand Drought Monitor is a system for keeping track of drought conditions across New Zealand based on a standardised climate index. niwa.co.nz/climate/information-and-resources/drought- monitor

‘Tis the season!

Irrigation helps ensure New Zealand has access to high quality, reliable food, whatever the weather. This Christmas we hope you get to enjoy the delicious food and drink that’s grown with irrigation.

Merry Christmas!

With more than 30 years of industry knowledge and technical expertise, our technicians have the experience it takes to identify the smallest of problems to avoid major breakdowns during the dry summer months.

Our technicians will tailor a seasonal servicing package to suit your business and equipment; from a 50-point warrant of fitness check through to comprehensive mechanical servicing, lubrication, electrical and structural

Talk to our team today about the latest water-saving technologies, and how we can help future-proof your business against the uncertainties of water.

maintenance. We supply only genuine parts and service, providing you with the peace of mind of knowing that your systems will continue to run in optimum condition, maximising their lifespan. BOOK

Call 0800 436 723 or contact your local WaterForce branch. waterforce.co.nz

Call 0800 436 723 or visit waterforce.co.nz

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Talk to your local Zimmatic irrigation dealer today to find out how they can help make every drop count.

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