We now have three daughters and really appreciate being able to raise a family in South Canterbury's vibrant rural setting.
First-hand experience of the value of water in our own farming business and surrounding community has focused my attention on irrigation. I am thrilled to now be leading IrrigationNZ, having been a director for five years, three as vice-chair. We need to keep pushing on and leading our IrrigationNZ members through the challenges ahead for farming within environmental limits.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST IRRIGATING CHALLENGES FOR FARMERS?
The setting of workable, affordable environmental limits is one of the biggest challenges our farming communities face in the next five years. Many communities in Canterbury are working through this now through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS). I am a strong believer in local communities driving local solutions and the CWMS shows how we can work together. My experience of Opuha Dam is another example of how a local community can come together to find economic, environmental and recreational solutions to meet a diverse needs.
Our irrigation framework called Smart, launched this year, demonstrates we're putting our money where our mouth is. My goal now is to get more irrigators on board and be aware of the different pathways they can take.
Though water quality is indisputably "the" water issue New Zealanders want to see resolved, I often feel irrigators are made a scapegoat for all water quality concerns. As irrigating farmers, we need support and community buy-in as well as a wider political vision if we are going to make tangible progress improving the health of our waterways.
WHAT CONTRIBUTION DOES IRRIGATION MAKE TO NEW ZEALAND?
In 2012-13 (a wet year) irrigation contributed well over $2 billion a year to New Zealand and $4 billion in flow-on effects. On average this equates to 20 per cent of agriculture-related GDP.
For an industry that occupies only 6 per cent of total land area we are punching well above our weight. Studies of the socio-economic effect of irrigated agriculture show that for every $1 of wealth created on an irrigated farm at least another $3 is created in the wider rural and urban communities.
WHAT KIND OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE?
Numerous, from farm managers and farm workers who use irrigation systems daily, service industry roles in design, installation, maintenance and sales, through to hydrology and consultancy services, which include research and innovation developments.
Irrigation schemes are also significant employers and increasingly are looking to recruit environmental managers. This will continue to be a really exciting industry to be part of, with great opportunities for young people and those looking for a career change.
IrrigationNZ is working with the Primary ITO in providing irrigation training and related qualifications (working towards a national certificate) across a range of disciplines within the industry.
TELL US ABOUT TWO AREAS IRRIGATIONNZ WILL FOCUS ON IN THE COMING YEAR?
This year the Government amended the 2011 national policy statement on freshwater management. IrrigationNZ supports this but wants to see more comprehensive guidelines around its implementation. These guidelines need to ensure that regional councils and their communities are working consistently through the process of setting limits and environmental standards.
The other area of focus for IrrigationNZ is the roll-out of our Smart irrigation framework to industry. We want to see all irrigators taking up this initiative and moving towards Smart practice.
Our framework is not only for the benefit of irrigators but provides a mechanism to share irrigation information with local communities and the wider public around the progress irrigating farmers are making and the accurate identification of gaps where we need more tools and support.
WHERE DOES WATER STORAGE FIT INTO THE IRRIGATION PICTURE?
We have the luxury of having an abundance of water in our country but it's not always in the right place and at the right time. Water storage has the ability to provide opportunities to address this.
Irrigation and farmers are only one of many beneficiaries of water storage and irrigation. Surrounding communities and service industries benefit immediately, and the wider New Zealand public benefits from viable farm businesses significantly contributing through a range of rates and taxes. Irrigation is also key to our domestic food supply. Augmentation of lowland streams through irrigation schemes, supported by water storage, can alleviate existing water quality issues.
WHAT'S YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL?
That we take the lead in working towards all summer-dry farming areas having affordable access to irrigation through multi-purpose water storage infrastructure. I see this as a critical in future-proofing our economy against the challenges of climate change ahead. All users of water -- irrigation, domestic, industry, recreational -- have an obligation and responsibility to use our water resource sustainably and efficiently. IrrigationNZ can provide the tools, resources and training to achieve this.
