From the Chair

Editor: Ella Stokes

Mobile 027 208 6371 estokes@irrigationnz.co.nz

Advertising:

admin@irrigationnz.co.nz

Administration & Subscriptions:

admin@irrigationnz.co.nz

Irrigation New Zealand

PO Box 8014 Wellington 6143

Design: Rosie Fenton Printing: Caxton Press Distribution: New Zealand Post

Cover Photo: Ella Stokes

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

ISSN 2230-5181

Another irrigation season draws to a close

As the mornings begin to cool down, daylight savings has ended, and the leaves on the trees start to take on the rustic hues of autumn, another irrigation season is at an end. The 2021/22 irrigation season will be remembered for unseasonal rain, dryness in unexpected places, and, of course, COVID. The food and fibre sector has again shown its importance to Aotearoa, and its resilience in dealing with the pandemic.

As winter approaches it is time to plan for next season and make sure that you are prepared. Winter servicing of all irrigation infrastructure is a “must do”. The key to good irrigation system performance is maintenance, but this is an element that is often overlooked or given low priority. Irrigation system maintenance should include, at a minimum: • Cleaning of sprinklers and nozzles; ensure they rotate freely and are not hooked up. • Cleaning screens and filters. • Regular greasing of travelling irrigators. • Checking hoses and pipes for damage or leaks. • Replacement of broken meters and gauges.

IrrigationNZ has a winter servicing checklist on the members only section of our website – make sure you check it out.

In the policy space, He Waka Eke Noa has been front and centre as the deadline approaches for the partnership recommendation to government on a greenhouse gas emissions pricing framework. The success of He Waka Eke Noa is not just about landing a suitable pricing framework. More importantly, in my view, it is about the food and fibre sector coming together to work collaboratively with both government and iwi for an enduring solution. With many more policy pieces still to be landed such as those relating to the freshwater reforms, Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms, Integrated Farm Plans, and Water Availability and Security, the need for the sector to come together, share the load, and work smarter on these matters is more important than ever. He Waka Eke Noa shows that we can do this, and therefore, the model can be applied in other policy areas.

This issue of the magazine focuses on technology and education. The irrigation sector has never shied away technology – our curiosity is endless. There is a continual need to upskill and to stay abreast of new tools and knowledge that enable us to be the best that we can be. This is essential as we continue to advocate for the importance of irrigation in food and fibre production and its role in climate change adaptation and optimisation of our land. Ultimately, we want to see this being recognised and reflected in policy settings. We need to demonstrate that irrigators, and all of the those who support the sector, are leading the way in setting standards, holding each other to account, upskilling, and investing in our industry. After all, the most powerful and effective advocacy is advocacy with credibility.

We have started 2022 in a strong position, and our objective is to maintain momentum, and do the best job that we can for the irrigation community. Following our online AGM in November last year, we welcomed Susan Goodfellow to the board of IrrigationNZ. Susan is a great addition to our governance team, and we are excited to have her. The board has a focus this year on ensuring that the organisation is best placed to address the plethora of policy that is in the pipeline, including the RMA reforms and freshwater reforms (including water security and availability, and iwi rights and interests). We are further cementing our relationships with key stakeholders, and as a sector we are working in a more collaborative way with our primary sector partners, as well as with other sectors that will be affected by the coming reforms, such as hydro generators.

Our small team at IrrigationNZ continues to make inroads in Wellington, while battling COVID and all that life seems to throw at us at the moment. My sincere thanks go to Vanessa, Stephen, Julie, Lynn, and Ella for their tenacity and commitment, and to those who support them and enable them to do what they do.

And with that, I wish our IrrigationNZ whānau all the best for the coming months. As always, if you have any questions, or just want to catch up with me, please don’t hesitate to make contact.

Ngā mihi nui