12/06/2026
Put your feet up and check out Country-wide’s chat with chair Andrew Mockford. Calling for a more coordinated approach to water in New Zealand.
https://youtu.be/4Opyyb9K7C8?si=iSPNHScZw_Pi4M0S
Or if you’d prefer a quiet read, scan the Country-Wide article. https://country-wide.co.nz/what-is-irrigationnz-looking-for-from-the-next-government/
💧But wait - there’s more!
You can listen to a podcast as well.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KkxEk3kBU1kEurLRRzJG8?si=zKBj1l02SMWX3T-5GrAL9g
Andrew Mockford - What IrrigationNZ is looking for from the next government
This episode features Andrew Mockford, Chair, Irrigation NZ discuss...
05/06/2026
Water is one of New Zealand’s greatest strengths.
Yet too often, we plan for water in a fragmented way rather than taking a long- term, coordinated approach.
Our 2026 manifesto has now launched. In it, we call for a stronger national focus on water resilience and infrastructure investment.
Our priorities include:
💧A national Water Strategy and Minister for Water
💧 Investment in water storage and distribution infrastructure
💧Policy settings that reflect water variability, not scarcity
💧Building the workforce and capability needed to support New Zealand’s water future
Water supports food production, thriving communities, environmental outcomes and economic resilience.
Let’s start addressing water as the strategic advantage it is.
Water. For Food. For Communities. For Life.
Read the manifesto https://www.irrigationnz.co.nz/ModularPage?Action=View&ModularPage_id=66
01/05/2026
A Saturday share - a good listen over coffee if you missed it earlier.
Irrigation isn’t just about the upfront price. After 40 years in the industry, Stephen McNally of Irrigation New Zealand Inc stresses long-term thinking: the cheapest system on paper can become the most expensive to run.
Design choices – pipe size, pump selection, pressure, and flow, set costs for decades. Skilled designers and whole-of-life costing secure efficiency, lower energy use, and lasting profitability.
What seems cheap today can cost dearly tomorrow. Plan wisely to protect farm performance for the next 20 years.
Read more in CountryWide Autumn.
https://bit.ly/4d05ZQ3
07/04/2026
Great to see this progress for Hawkes Bay - well done to Mike Peterson and others involved with the TukiTuki Water Security project.
