| 111 nzdairy National Cert III in Irrigation Technology The National Certificate III in Irrigation Technology entails everything people need to learn to install and maintain irrigation systems in a wide range of professional environments DAIRY SERVICES » Irrigation New Zealand • from page 109 New Zealand farmers are extraordinarily ef cient in that area and we have a great story to tell.” Vanessa says that regulation typically follows consumer demand so the more the industry can stay ahead of trends the more likely it is to be able to continue with its social license around water and ef uent. She says self-regulation is key rather than relying on legislative changes. This is where supplier certi cation and accreditation steps in and Vanessa urges farmers to seek experts with recognised quali cations. “We need to give con dence in the industry so we become leaders, continuous improvement to stay ahead.”As an example she says that a New Zealand is seeing a lot of community led water projects on water quality and ef uent control issues. “Having a community approach means they set the values of what they want to achieve. Needing Water Storage for your Crops and Livestock? Flexi Tanks NZ o ers a range of Water storage bladders that can store from 1000 litres to 2 million litres. Ideal for Horticulture, Closed storage, no external contamination, no pests and low maintenance Best value bladder on the market Safe - tank is fully enclosed 10 Year manufacturers warranty Up to 20 year life expectancy Consistent water quality Made by Labaronne, the French inventor of Flexible storage 60 years ago Minimal ground works required and rapid installation No security fencing required Andre Meier E: P: 027 7063 633 W: SERIOUSWATER STORAGE! This is important; as every community will have a different set of values they are working towards. But by setting regulation at a national level you might not have that nuance to achieve the outcomes particular communities want to achieve.” She says one of the initiatives that Irrigation NZ is involved with in conjunction with Taumata Arowai is looking at the new Water Services Bill regarding water drinking quality. “We are working with government on what this bill looks like for rural drinking supplies on farms to ensure that people in that group are not regulated in the same way that district councils might be.” She says irrigation users are part of the solution not the problem. “If irrigators are adhering to good practice they are providing water to their crops in a way that sets exactly what that crop will need at the right time and volume without spilling nutrients into waterways. Water ef ciency is really important from an environmental impact perspective and helps us to grow food sustainably that feeds the world.”
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