On The Up: Award-winning Swannanoa farmers plant over 2000 seedlings with help from community
The couple have received the 2025 WIL (Waimakariri Irrigation Limited) Shareholder Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship.
Over the past three years, the Whytes have grown
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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Secondary teachers union rejects pay offer
The secondary teachers union has rejected a pay offer of one percent a year for three years. RNZ understands it is one of the lowest offers ever made to secondary teachers. The offer to members of the Post Primary Teachers Association amounts to a three percent pay rise over three years. That is well below the 14.5 percent over three years won through arbitration in 2023 and the average 10 percent over three years the union's members grudgingly accepted in 2019. Both of those settlements also included lump sum payments. The government's offer this year also sought to increase the number of days outside term time that schools can require teachers to come to work from 10 to 20 each year. The Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche, was overseeing this year's negotiations. In May he announced he would retain the responsibility usually delegated to the Education Ministry. "My rationale for this decision is influenced by the wider objective of overseeing collective bargaining and managing fiscal pressures across the public sector," he said at the time. Sir Brian was disappointed the PPTA had rejected the pay offer and urged the union to reconsider. He said the offer was carefully crafted to recognise the contribution teachers make while ensuring it was affordable for taxpayers in a difficult economic times. "The offer on the table represented a 3 percent increase over three years, on top of annual pay progression of between 4.5 percent and 7.5 percent," he said. "For many secondary teachers, this equates to pay increases between $3100 and $8000 a year, with regular annual progression included. Over three years the offer provides increases of between $1850 to $3123, or between $7275 and $15250 with annual pay progression. "The economic environment and the government's fiscal position are very difficult. Every additional dollar spent must be weighed against what is sustainable and fair to all New Zealanders. "I am open to continued dialogue and am committed to reaching a settlement that supports teachers, students, and our public school system." Post Primary Teachers Association President Chris Abercrombie, told Morning Report, he believed teachers deserved an agreement that reflected their skills. "We've got immense change in our sector right now and we need a qualified suitable workforce to implement that change." Abercrombie said it had been 30 years since they had seen this happen. The Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) started negotiation of the primary teachers collective agreement last month.
Scoop
04-07-2025
- Scoop
Canterbury Water Storage Boost A ‘Gamechanger' For Farmers
A $56.4m Government investment in water storage and irrigation will be ''a gamechanger'' for Canterbury farmers, the Associate Regional Development Minister says. Minister Mark Patterson said three Canterbury water storage and irrigation projects will receive loans from the Government's Regional Infrastructure Fund. Mr Patterson made the announcement at the Taggart family's woolshed at Cust, on a rainy Thursday morning (July 3). The Balmoral water storage facility run by the Amuri Irrigation Company (AIC) will receive $20m, Waimakariri Irrigation Ltd (WIL) will receive $15.6, and the Opuha Dam and irrigation scheme in South Canterbury $20.8m. Mr Patterson, who was joined by Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey, Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith and Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon, said the announcement was ''a momentous day for Canterbury''. ''It strengthens water resilience and unlocks new economic opportunities. ''Access to reliable manageable water is a gamechanger to our primary sector.'' Mr Gordon said WIL's proposed 8.2 million cubic metre water storage facility at Wrights Road, near Oxford, has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years. ''WIL is not just an irrigation scheme. It is a lifeline for our region, irrigating an impressive 23,000ha and supporting around 170 shareholders. ''It is one of the largest schemes in the South Island, and its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable water management is commendable.'' Mr Gordon said WIL's biodiversity projects had uncovered rare species like the Canterbury mudfish and tadpole shrimp, which shows investment in irrigation could have positive environmental outcomes. WIL chief executive Brent Walton said his company's shareholders included a mix of lifestyle blocks, and sheep, cropping and dairy farmers. He said the $15.6m loan was the boost needed to kickstart the project. ''The key thing is it benefits all types of farmers, and it is about the future of the district and the benefits we will bring to future generations.'' Mr Walton said water storage could enhance rivers and groundwater and be used for other uses beyond irrigation. Work on the new facility will begin next year and expected to be completed for the 2028/29 season. AIC chairperson David Croft said his company plans to build a pond to store up to 10 million cubic metres of water and can be used in the winter and shoulder seasons, using existing resource consents. ''It is quite clear the rural sector is leading the New Zealand economy, and this investment can help our economic recovery. ''And we will end up with a great asset for the whole of North Canterbury.'' The company has 132 shareholders covering 28,000ha across three water schemes, including 60 percent dairy farming, and the rest a mix of dairy support, sheep and beef, and cropping. Opuha Water Ltd chief executive Bjorn Triplow said the investment will help fund the upgrade of the Opuha Dam. ''Beyond its role in supporting sustainable farming, the dam has catalysed growth in downstream industries, delivering an annual net economic benefit of $315m to the South Canterbury region.'' Mr Triplow said the dam also provided a safeguard in extreme weather events, such as the 2021 flood. Enterprise North Canterbury chief executive Heather Warwick said the investment will unlock land for irrigation, boosting productivity and creating jobs. ''Water is a gamechanger for our farmers. They say water is gold in farming,'' she said. Enterprise North Canterbury is the economic development arm of the Waimakariri and Hurunui district councils. But Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe described the investment as ''a dirty deal for dirty water''. ''It is deeply irresponsible to use public money to fund the expansion of these irrigation schemes, which will lead to more intensive dairy, more cows, and more pollution.''
NZ Herald
14-06-2025
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Award-winning Swannanoa farmers plant over 2000 seedlings with help from community
Taking positive action to improve the environment while involving the community in their planting project has proved rewarding for Swannanoa farmers Brian and Rosemary Whyte. The couple have received the 2025 WIL (Waimakariri Irrigation Limited) Shareholder Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship. Over the past three years, the Whytes have grown
