Nor'West News: February 22, 2024

WIL looks to future
By GINA MCKENZIE
The opportunity to spend more time
on farm, while providing adedicated
service for shareholders, attracted
new environmental manager Ben
Howden to work for Waimakariri
Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Ben is the first full­time internal
environmental manager to work for
the co­operative, and he says this
demonstrates the importance WIL
places on assisting shareholders to
meet their environmental
requirements while also responding
to current and future environmental
challenges.
‘‘Spending more time out on farm
with shareholders while also
considering what the future holds
really appeals to me.
‘‘I am keen to get to know our
shareholders and find out how Ican
help them to achieve their
environmental goals,’’ he says.
Growing up on his family’s farm
near Ashburton, Ben understands
what it takes to operate asuccessful
farm on apractical level.
After high school, he attended
Canterbury University where he
gained amasters degree in
environmental science before starting
his career as an environmental
analyst with Rangitata Dairies in
South Canterbury.
While working for Rangitata
Dairies, Ben focused on providing onfarm
and consent support for the
company'sfarming operations.
Ben then moved to Irricon where he
spent five years working as an
environmental consultant with afocus
on consents and auditing during the
time when Farm Environment Plans
(FEPs) became arequirement for
farmers.
‘‘A year after Istarted at Irricon,
Environment Canterbury launched
their FEP auditing programme, so I
provided practical advice to farmers
and carried out audits.
‘‘There was alot to learn during this
period for both consultants and
farmers.’’
In 2021, Ben took up aprincipal
consultant role with Ravensdown
where he led ateam of consultants
based in mid­Canterbury to support
farmers in meeting their regulatory
requirements and environmental
goals.
‘‘I enjoyed leading ateam and had
the opportunity to work in alarge
organisation where Icould gain alot
of experience and learn new skills.
‘‘After afew years Iwanted to spend
more time out on farm again and being
able to work closely with farmers is
what attracted me to the role with
WIL.’’
New environmental manager ... Ben
Howden is keen to visit shareholders and
learn more about their farming
operations.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Ben sees challenges and
opportunities ahead for WIL’s
shareholders and is looking forward to
helping them navigate options for a
sustainable farming future.
‘‘Obviously we have challenges in
terms of regulation and climate
change, but we also have plenty of
opportunities including technology
and efficiency gains.
‘‘The irrigation scheme also has an
opportunity as aco­operative to
secure amore sustainable and
reliable water supply.’’
Along with building strong
relationships with WIL’s shareholders
and familiarising himself with the
irrigation scheme, Ben will be
supporting the preparation of WIL’s
discharge consent renewal during the
first few months of his new role.
When Ben isn’t out on farm, he will
be based in WIL’s new office which is
located upstairs in Conway Lane in
Rangiora.
He is happy to visit shareholders on
farm and they are also welcome to
visit him at his office.
‘‘I am pretty down to earth and
approachable, so Ihope shareholders
will give me acall, and Iwill do my
best to support them to achieve their
environmental goals.
In his free time, Ben enjoys sport
and the outdoors, and shares his love
of nature with his young family. They
live in Darfield.
‘‘I love diving, fishing, hunting and
cricket. Going away camping is
another activity we enjoy doing as a
family. We like to be outside doing
stuff whenever possible.’’
RURAL LIFE
North Canterbury News, February 22, 2024
Asweet fundraiser
After aslow start to the growing season,
Rotherham School’s popular sweetcorn
fundraiser is up and running again.
The cobs are on sale for $5 for five cobs,
outside the school gates in Rotherham.
The proceeds will go towards employing a
third teacher.
School Parent Teacher Association
(PTA) president Tash Thomas says the
corn will also be for sale at Hanmer
Springs markets and the Amuri A&P show
over next few of weeks.
Grown on aone third of ahectare block
donated by owner Ross Beavens, the
seeds were sown last November by
Rotherham­based contractor Flintoft
Contractors Ltd.
The Madison Gold seed was supplied by
Pioneer Brand Products through Paige
Farrell the area manager.
Mrs Thomas and the school’s PTA
members has been working long hours
picking cobs.
‘‘After aworrying couple of late frosts
early in December after it had been
sowed, and slow growth in January, plus
water restrictions, we were beginning to
worry whether we would have agood
season or not. But the weather here has
improved and they have shot away.
‘‘They are looking great and we are all
relieved.’’
It is expected to take three weeks to
pick all the corn and Tash says it will be
tight to gather enough in time for the the
Amuri Show on March 2—provided the
weather is kind.
The PTA is extremely grateful for all the
help they get each year from the parents
of children at the school to help pick the
cobs.
Last year the school sold 9000 cobs of
corn raising arecord $9500 for the school.
The small rural school has agrowing
roll of 42 children with 14 new entrants
starting this year.
QUALITY FENCING
BUILT TOYOUR BUDGET!
All types of fencing for Deer, Cattle, Sheep, Horses,
Dogs. Also Arenas, Stock Yards, Sheds, Gates
Complete Farm and Lifestyle Block Setups
Built to last,adding value to your asset!
Ashley 0274 364 776
a.duckworth@xtra.co.nz
www.duckworthfencing.co.nz
2458859
25
Sneaky bite ... Lotte Thomas, aged 10,
enjoys acob of corn.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
2191656
FARMBIKE SPECIALISTS
Servicing North Canterburyfor over 25yrs!
•Sales, Servicing&
Parts
•All Makes &Models
•Qualified Motorcycle
Engineers
(NCME, TRADECERT)
•Electrical &Mechanical
fault testing
•Quality 2nd Hand Bikes
&UTV’s
•Repairs &Dismantling
•Insurance Repairs
2177981
FENCING
• Post Driving
• Stock Fencing
• Stockyards
• Post and Rails
• Lifestyle etc
Ph Andy Horn
021 214 1201 or
(03) 314 9460
163 Stokes Road, Balcairn
Ph (03) 312 9844 or 027 205 5724 (AH)
farmbikesnc@orcon.net.nz
www.farmbikeservices.co.nz
CONTACTYOURNORTH CANTERBURY
BASEDWELLDRILLING TEAM
FOR ALL WATER WELL DRILLING
&WELL SERVICING REQUIREMENTS
· Water well drilling · Lifestyle block supply
· Rural water supply · Pump testing
· Submersible pump installation and removal
FORPROFESSIONALSERVICE FROM AN EXPERIENCEDTEAM
027222 1587 ·malcolm@hydrill.co.nz
2632578
DAVE 027 522 7166