Dry weather classification expands to North Island
The dry weather in some parts of the North Island has received medium-scale adverse event classification from the Government.
A company, which owns a Cambridge dairy farm, has received a fine totalling $26,000 for a range of offences relating to the property.
The charges against J and J Watt Limited include illegally disturbing the beds of a watercourse and a stream, and disturbing the bed of a wetland.
The case, brought by Waikato Regional Council, mostly concerned events between May 2010 and May 2013, at the farm near Leamington. The company also breached a council abatement notice in February 2014.
Hamilton District Court was told that council staff inspecting the farm on February 20 last year had discovered recent earthworks and soil disturbance in and around watercourses that ultimately lead to the Waikato River. The company had previously obtained resource consent to carry out re-contouring works in a gully containing a small but locally significant wetland. However, Judge Craig Thompson found that the company did not do what it was supposed to do.
“I am slightly mystified that the company …sought and obtained an appropriate consent – but then completely failed to take account of what the consent actually required,” he says.
“It was careless, inattentive and irresponsible in my view.”
According to the Waikato Regional Council, the result of the offending was significantly increased sediment loads in the stream flowing through the farm. The stream flowed for about 700 metres from the site of the offending to the Waikato River.
Acting investigations manager Derek Hartley also condemned the company saying “This is a case where the company applied for a resource consent and then effectively commenced works without having regard to any of the conditions. Consents are a mechanism to ensure that adverse effects that threaten the environment are managed,”
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
Graham Brown, the executive chef for Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), is excited about Korea.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.