Young water science talent recognised
Third-year student Cady Burns has won the Waikato Regional Council Prize in Water Science for 2024.
Convictions and fines totalling over $100,000 have been imposed for environmental damage caused by a “highly careless” pine woodlot harvest and associated earthworks on a farm in northern Waikato.
Forestry company, Glenn Martin Ltd, and forestry harvest contractor Radiata Harvesting (2017) Ltd and staff were convicted and sentenced in the Auckland District Court last week on a total of 11 charges against the Resource Management Act.
They have been fined a combined total of $104,750.
The prosecution taken by the Waikato Regional Council related to activities from April 2019 through to January 2020 that resulted in over four kilometres of poorly constructed forestry tracking, along with numerous stream crossings.
These actions negatively impacted streams in the area through the discharge of tree waste material and sediment.
Glenn Martin Ltd was convicted of four charges and sentenced to fines totalling $45,000.
Radiata Harvesting (2017) Ltd was convicted of four charges and sentenced to fines totalling $45,000.
Auckland resident and harvest foreman, Frederick Hunia, was convicted of two charges and sentenced to fines totalling $5000.
Pōkeno earthworks contractor Peter Arnet was also convicted of one charge and fined $9750.
In sentencing in Auckland, District Court Judge Melinda Dickey characterised the forestry harvest as “highly careless, bordering on reckless” in respect to Glenn Martin Ltd and Radiata Harvesting (2017) Ltd.
Waikato Regional Council regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch says the environmental effects of forestry activities are regulated through a national environmental standard.
“This standard has now been in place for some years, and the forestry industry will notice an increased focus by us on compliance with it.
“Where landowners or forestry contractors deviate from these national regulations, resulting in adverse environmental outcomes, they can expect enforcement action to be taken.”
Lynch says in this instance, the forestry harvest management was “very poor”.
“Sediment is one of the main pollutants that adversely affects water quality, in this case the headwaters of the Ohaeroa Stream and ultimately the Waikato River.”
Animal rights organization, SAFE says the government needs to maintain the ban on live exports.
New findings from not-for-profit food supply and distribution organization, the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) have revealed a 42% increase in demand for food support in 2023 compared to 2022.
New data released by LIC and DairyNZ shows New Zealand dairy farmers have achieved the highest six week in-calf rate and lowest notin- calf rate on record.
Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) have signed an agreement which will open more of Canterbury Agricultural Park for public use while helping to provide long-term certainty for the A&P Show.
This year’s Fieldays will feature a Rural Advocacy Hub - bringing together various rural organisations who are advocating for farmers and championing their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.
ASB head of rural banking Aidan Gent is encouraging farmers to speak to their banks when they are struggling.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…