FROM THE CHAIR

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