Productive water
The year Water is critical to New Zealand's primary industries. It is New Zealand's competitive advantage. A key focus is to deliver a sustainable approach to water management into the future. The past year has seen a very heavy policy work programme: the third report of the Land and Water Forum; the release of the freshwater proposals paper; and culminating in the July announcements on the next stage of freshwater reforms. The freshwater reform programme sets out a staged approach to reform with immediate reforms setting the foundations to enable consideration of more complex issues over a longer timeframe. This includes issues that are of interest to the Plan - namely allocation, permit duration, transfer and trade, and incentives for efficient use. A number of Regional Councils have been in discussions with communities in setting plans and seeking to balance the economic opportunities provided by irrigation with the importance of environmental protection, and especially the health and quality of waterways. There is particular interest in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and the Horizons One Plan. Irrigation data shows a 16.5% increase over the past six years. Most significantly, the data is showing a dramatic drop in the number of 'food' systems and an increase in the more efficient systems. The Irrigation Acceleration Fund is in its second of five years of funding, just over $18m has been granted to help to develop eleven projects across Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Canterbury and Otago. The Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd was constituted on 1 July 2013, and will provide for the Crown's participation in the construction and operation of water harvesting, storage, and off-farm distribution infrastructure. The Government has committed up to $400 million of capital for future equity investment from the Future Investment Fund. The first tranche of $80 million was provided in Budget 2013.
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Overview The next stage of the freshwater reforms has been announced, laying the foundations for consideration of allocation issues that impact on the certainty required for continued investment. In the paddocks, there has been a sustained increase in irrigation and most significantly, using methods that are more efficient and better utilise the water resource. |
Highlights from the past year » Release of the third Land and Water Forum Report - Managing Water Quality and Allocating Water. » The announcements in August of the next phase of resource management reforms to provide greater certainty for communities to plan for, and meet, their area's needs in a way that reduces costs and delays. » Release of proposals paper Freshwater reform 2013 and beyond setting out the Government's water reform programme. » The announcements in July of immediate freshwater reforms: legislative provisions for collaborative water planning process as an alternative to Schedule 1 of the RMA; intent to consult on a National Objective Framework for water; and provisions for better accounting of all sources of water takes and discharges. » $18 million allocated from the Irrigation Acceleration Fund. » Establishment of Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd with an initial capital allowance of $80 million. » Commitment made to introduce an environmental reporting Bill later this year - including mandatory reporting on five areas, including water. | Opportunities/challenges » Maintaining progress and delivering on the expectations raised through the collaborative approach of LAWF and the RMA reform and water reform papers released in 2013. » Ensuring robust analysis and evidence underpin future decisions, especially relating to setting objectives and their associated limits; the choice of the most cost-effective mitigation options and transition paths where objectives are not being met; and further work on different aspects of the allocation of takes and discharges (such as consent duration). » Taking opportunities to integrate, align and coordinate the planning regime across local and central government. » Ensuring that investments made by Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd are supported by transparent and robust investment analysis. |
Irrigable land 2007 and 2012 (hectares) | Region | Potential Irrigation |
| Bay of Plenty | 17,000 |
Hawkes Bay | 45,000 | |
Wairarapa | 50,000 | |
Rangitiki | 70,000 | |
Nelson/Tasman | 7,000 | |
Malborough | 3,500 | |
Canterbury | 163,000 | |
Otago | 48,500 | |
Southland | 30,000 |
