Water
Govt promises fresh thinking on water policy
Neal WallaceDec 1, 2023
New Minister of Agriculture promises changes to water policy by Christmas.
E coli plagues NZ’s freshwater systems
Richard RennieNov 30, 2023
Baseline study of 850 sites sketches magnitude of freshwater task ahead.
Water turmoil may put deadlines at risk
Neal WallaceNov 30, 2023
But councils turn down Feds request to pause work on freshwater plans.
Flatter slopes cause sediment build-up
Neal WallaceNov 23, 2023
Sustained flow that historically carried sediment and gravel out to sea has reduced.
Farmers see red over Northland livestock exclusion plans
Hugh StringlemanNov 8, 2023
Fear is that hill country grazing will need costly resource consents in the future.
Time to cut red tape hindering water storage: Feds
Federated FarmersNov 7, 2023
El Niño’s early arrival has farmers in many districts, but especially on the east coasts of both islands, checking feed and livestock levels.
Water concerns find receptive ear at ORC
Neal WallaceNov 3, 2023
Council said to have promised changes to Regional Land and Water Management Plan.
Plea to take water out of political realm
Annette ScottOct 18, 2023
Irrigation lobby group wants longer-term thinking and a ministry for water.
Horizons holds freshwater targets roadshow
Farmers WeeklyOct 17, 2023
Meetings aim to give rural and urban communities essential information about the freshwater reform process.
Freshwater courses on offer at Massey
Farmers WeeklyOct 16, 2023
February intake for popular online modules.
Blaming the wrong flock for Queenstown
Alan EmersonOct 3, 2023
Alan Emerson is irritated by reporting that tries to pin the tourist town’s crypto outbreak on sheep.
ORC river flow call a blow to farmers
Neal WallaceSep 21, 2023
Fears for land’s future as new minimum rates announced.
ORC tables Manuherikia River proposal
Neal WallaceSep 19, 2023
Recommendation to triple minimum flow of Central Otago river over the next 17 years.
Cost be dammed, controversial Waimea water project nears completion
Richard RennieSep 7, 2023
Aim is to have largest dam built in NZ in more than two decades commissioned by December.
ECan approves new consent regs
Annette ScottAug 18, 2023
Farms have to learn whole new system before previous one is even bedded in, Feds says.
Freshwater progress clouded by piecemeal approach
BusinessDeskAug 18, 2023
Parliament upbraids bureaucrats on lack of co-ordination on issue.
Database of waterways work launches
Farmers WeeklyAug 14, 2023
National record kept of land initiatives that restore health to rural waterways.
DoC’s eye-watering easement fees strike again
Farmers WeeklyAug 1, 2023
Gap between expectation and DoC quotation almost 1000%.
‘Impractical’ freshwater regs bring new tensions on farm
Neal WallaceJul 28, 2023
Blanket approach could end up harming land, environment and farmers’ self-image, study finds.
Schoolkids dig in to improve local waterways
Farmers WeeklyJul 24, 2023
Tatuanui students run native plant nursery to supply local dairy farmers and raise funds.
Next three FFP regions revealed
Neal WallaceJul 7, 2023
Starting gun for Freshwater Farm Plans to be fired in Otago, West Coast and Manawatū next year.
Mixed results in Waikato environment report
Gerald PiddockJul 4, 2023
Decades of rising levels of nitrogen and bacteria in waterways identified, but Lake Taupō doing better than expected.
Massey launches rural waterway project
Farmers WeeklyJul 1, 2023
Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Manawatū farmers and iwi to be given training and education in preserving waterways.
Southland flags 21 sites in first IWG flyover
Farmers WeeklyJun 28, 2023
Environment authority checking consents and following up.
Tiny device promises simple, fast phosphate detection in waterways
Farmers WeeklyJun 28, 2023
Phosphate, a key ingredient in fertiliser, can get into waterways through run-off.
Project helps farmers clean up blighted estuary
Farmers WeeklyJun 26, 2023
Fifteen Bay of Plenty landowners supported to transition to lower-footprint systems along Waihī Estuary.
IrrigationNZ has shopping list for next govt
Annette ScottJun 24, 2023
Water ministry and better storage top the list.
Waterway eDNA testing service wins innovation award
Gerald PiddockJun 20, 2023
Wilderlab cinches Fieldays Innovation Award for growth and scale.
‘Waka’ gives real-time water quality updates
Richard RennieJun 19, 2023
NZ-developed device sits in water ways, transmitting data.
Have your say on slopes
Neal WallaceJun 19, 2023
Govt seeks more input on changes to Essential Freshwater reforms.
ECan to go it alone on flood plans
Annette ScottJun 15, 2023
Plea for protection systems fall on deaf govt ears, says chair.
Feds has queries as Freshwater Farm Plans kick off
Neal WallaceJun 9, 2023
First plans to be rolled out in Southland and Waikato in August.
The ins and opt-outs of new water schemes
Neal WallaceMay 26, 2023
Water reform will directly affect farmers who tap into mixed-use, council-owned schemes.
Feds flags freshwater deadline pressures
Neal WallaceMay 19, 2023
The delayed policy, part of the Essential Freshwater reforms, will start with pilot programmes this August.
Catchment groups get free eDNA testing
Farmers WeeklyMay 3, 2023
EPA partnership will allow 19 groups to test a waterway in their region to learn about plants and animals in it.
NZ shows little interest in Aus phosphate pollution fix
BusinessDeskMay 1, 2023
Slated as ‘expensive avoidance option’ rather than a solution.
Call for information on waterway weedkillers
Farmers WeeklyApr 24, 2023
The European Union banned the use of diquat in 2018 due to concerns about the effects on people and birds.
No surprises for dairy in grim water study
Gerald PiddockApr 20, 2023
Much work to be done, even though report ‘sets the bar very high’.
Councils appeal High Court ruling on Three Waters
BusinessDeskApr 19, 2023
Timaru and Waimakariri district councils may yet be joined by Whangārei .
Waikato council and iwi work on better response plan for wetland
Gerald PiddockApr 17, 2023
Avian botulism outbreak prompts latest approach to planning.
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