Manawatū-Whanganui: delivery of land and water management services
Think-piece
HenleyHutchings was commissioned by Horizons Regional Council to deliver a think-piece which would consider the adjustments which could be made to capacity, capability and operating methods of non-regulatory activities of the Council’s land and water management groups to better achieve sustainable and prosperous outcomes.
The think-piece was designed to lay the ground for Council to continue to be a leader amongst regional authorities by:
Exploring what it would mean to do what is possible, not just what is a statutory requirement.
Assisting to clarify the role of the Council in unlocking opportunities for the region.
Enabling the Council to be up-to-the-moment, particularly in light of the fresh demands on regional councils on setting environmental limits.
Building on past Horizons regional leadership performance, as displayed by the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) programme, information management (Land and Water Aotearoa - LAWA) and the multi-year and highly successful river engineering programme
Outcome
A think-piece, used as a kick-starter for action, that assessed what capability and capacity is required to capture new directions and priorities for water management services in Manawatū-Whanganui.
Research
At the heart of this project, commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries, was the intention to test the merit of a model designed to support the sheep and beef farming opportunity which was outlined in the ‘Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Growth Study’ which HenleyHutchings helped create. The intent of the model was to achieve increases in on-farm profitability and productivity by providing an efficient mechanism for the sharing of sought after information.
The particular focus of the project was to:
Confirm the obstacles (regulatory, information flow or otherwise) that may impede farmer performance.
Identify the key on-farm and off-farm interventions which may unlock farmer productivity increases.
Design an engagement approach which was supported, sustainable and of proven value.
Outcome
A basis for project implementation to extend on-farm profitability and productivity as identified as a potential area in the Manawatu-Whanganui Growth Study.
Skills
Analysis – extensive research, synthesising complex data and applying specialist knowledge in water management and agricultural practices nationally and locally
Collaboration - facilitating collaboration with stakeholders across the industry
Team
