Water capture and storage conversations flowing more freely
Community perception that water storage and irrigation is all about more cows is ebbing as more people wake up to the realities of climate change, Vanessa Winning says.
‘‘I think there’s a better understanding now of the positives of irrigation than even 18 months ago,’’ the Irrigation New Zealand chief executive told a Guild of Agricultural Journalists on-line event last month.
Our biggest city has for the last two years got a taste of the restrictions and economic hand-brake of water shortages that have plagued east coast regions of the country for more than a decade. And piling on top of worsening ‘drys’ and droughts in regions such as Marlborough and Northland are factors such as the aspirations of iwi and hapu to better utilise their land, pressure for more hydro electricity as we de-carbonise the economy, and the re-organisation of water authorities in the push for higher drinking water quality and reliability.
Better water capture and storage, and the ability to deliver it where and when it’s needed with precision via irrigation, is increasingly recognised as an ‘‘enabler’’ for more diverse land use.
‘‘There are definitely pockets where irrigation is specific to dairy farming, but the vast majority of dairy farming is not done under irrigation.
‘‘It’s also true that if you want to grow fruit and vegetables you need a reliable source of water, more so than if you are raising cows and sheep for milk and meat,’’ Vanessa said.
Kerikeri, for example, invested in water infrastructure more than 30 years ago and that’s why it can produce amazing mandarins and citrus year round, not to mention its growth as a kiwifruit hub.
‘‘Pamu are in the middle of replanting a dairy farm into a massive avocado plantation, and I say plantation because it’s way bigger than any orchard I’ve ever seen.’’
In contrast, lack of investment in water infrastructure on the East Coast, East Cape and Hawke’s Bay is coming home to roost.
Vanessa is working from Irrigation NZ’s office in Wellington but she and her daughters call Auckland home.
‘‘I read recently that Auckland was at 46 percent of its dam storage when normally we’d be closer to 80 percent at this time of the year.
‘‘That impacts on growers in Pukekohe and their ability to take water to grow potatoes and cabbages and all the
other vegetables.
‘‘There’s a lot of work my organisation can do to change the conversation and improve the understanding that if we want to diversify and improve growing conditions in areas that get low on water, we’re going to have to spend some money and get that infrastructure in place, and do it in a way that takes in a holistic community approach rather than just for productive use.’’
Vanessa made the point that among Irrigation NZ’s 3800 members are a number of stadia, golf courses and district councils using irrigation for parks and recreation purposes. Eden Park earlier this year switched from using treated drinking water to bore water to irrigate its turf, saving 16 million litres of municipal water a year.
‘‘Is there any improvement in government’s willingness to co-invest in capture and storage?’’ she was asked.
‘‘I think that as understanding of the need grows, we’re seeing a move,’’ Vanessa said.
The idea that taxpayers’ money goes into water schemes that primarily boost the personal wealth of a small number of land-owners has never sat well with any government. Much easier to get across the line now are smaller or multi-site schemes where wider community uses are catered for.
The government recognises that common ownership models of Maori land
mean that hapu and iwi find it more difficult to access bank capital for land use improvement. Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust’s Matawii and Kaipara schemes won Provincial Growth Fund grants and loans, for example.
Irrigation NZ is looking to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Maori Authorities later this year, forge a partnership, and work on growth outcomes and long-term sustainability.
And where capture/storage and irrigation mean less water is taken from rivers, and other environmental benefits are involved, it’s not only more likely to get government support but also faster approval through RMA - and replacement
legislation - processes.
While there is still plenty of room for improvement on efficient use of water onfarm, Vanessa is seeing greater focus on improvements that ‘‘de-risk us from the climate change already happening.
‘‘I see more and more extremes in weather. When we get those huge dumps of rain and snow, if we can’t catch more of that to use when we have dry conditions, we’re not being very smart or efficient.
‘‘Those are the things that are getting momentum. There are now conversations about dam opportunities in the Otago area when those kind of things haven’t been discussed for at least the last four years.’’
Kerikeri invested in water infrastructure more than 30 years ago and that’s why it can produce amazing mandarins and citrus year round, not to mention its growth as a kiwifruit hub.