New Zealand - conflict in the countryside

Its over 15 years since I was last in New Zealand and the shift in agriculture is clear to see.  Many of the hilly farms in the north and south are no longer sheep producers but have turned to dairy.  On the Canterbury Plain cattle are also a dominant feature; with pivot irrigators ensuring the thin soils over gravel can keep producing grass.  There is lots of fruit being grown too.  Kiwis, cherries, apricots, plums destined for domestic and Chinese markets.  There is lots of energy in the farming in New Zealand; it is dynamic, productive and exciting to be around.

But there are challenges too.  It was back in 2002 that the dairy industry here hit upon bad press due to the impacts of livestock on water quality.  Consensus is that the industry dragged it heals and took too long to respond and as a result the ‘dirty dairy’ label has been difficult to shift.

Lots of work has been done since then and progress is good.  Through industry initiatives farmers have put in place Farm Environment Plans, which assess natural capital and biodiversity on holdings, identify erosion risk areas, demonstrate efficient use of water resources and calculate N & P loading and loss.  Planting up and fencing out watercourses is well underway and farmer catchment groups have been set up to tackle watercourse failures, in order to meet the stringent targets set for water quality.  But Ecoli scares and the like are still happening.  Talking to non-farmers, the issue is on everyone’s lips.  I was told about 2 different scares over water quality in recent months; both of which it turns out were nothing to do with livestock; though cows got a mention when the incidences were discussed.

Public perception is also impacting of farmers’ ability to develop their businesses further.  A proposed river damming scheme was stopped in 2018 due to fear over its environmental impacts.  Despite huge amounts of water flowing through the rivers of New Zealand, irrigation and domestic supplies can be restricted due to low summer flows.  The water scheme was intended to help supplies for irrigation by retaining winter water and thus maintaining flow.  The concern from New Zealanders however was that more water = more irrigation = more cows. 

So how do the New Zealanders move on?  There is a quiet movement from the ground to take ownership of environmental issues; to understand the science at a real level, (rather than a modelled one); and to drive change in a practical, farmer sort of way. Interestingly, in one catchment group farmer to farmer support is being set up, the aim of which is to deal with bad practice from within the industry rather than to send in the regulators.  The catchment group hopes that the gentle tap on the arm and chat with a peer will discourage the poor action and bring people into the conversation rather than put them off.  Having the right people involved is key, Craig from Landcare tells me.  Catchment groups are successful where there is someone who has Mana (leadership, effectiveness) to drive it.  People, then, are key to results.

Here in New Zealand I have seen first hand the importance of agriculture grabbing the environmental agenda and owning it.  Farmers have some of the greatest influence over the landscapes of New Zealand and understand the land better than many.  Farmer need to gain trust to be allowed more freedom to manage it.  Maybe then the positive work being done by farmers will eventually shine through.