US tour shows New Zealand is holding its own in irrigation
US tour shows New Zealand is holding its own in irrigation – now we need to protect the passion behind it
New Zealand growers are holding their own on the world stage when it comes to irrigation, but it’s crucial we protect the passion and confidence that sit behind that capability.
That’s the message from Lindsay Senior Marketing Specialist Sarah Elliot, and Irricon Managing Director Haidee McCabe, following their involvement in the 2025 Trailblazer Irrigation Study Tour through the Pacific Northwest of the United States in September. Both say the tour reinforced just how technically strong New Zealand already is in irrigation practice, but how important it is to nurture the sense of pride that drives it.
The tour forms part of the Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards, which recognise excellence in water management, innovation, and environmental stewardship. Held every two years, the Trailblazer Tour brings together award winners, alumni and sector leaders from New Zealand and Australia to exchange practical knowledge, learn from international systems, and strengthen collaboration.
This year’s 19-strong tour took participants inside large-scale family farming operations, irrigation districts and leading infrastructure sites. They got a firsthand look at how water reliability, community backing and long-term planning are treated as essential foundations of agricultural success in the US.
“Across the board, our growers here in New Zealand hold their own on the global stage,” says Sarah. “What stood out on tour was the depth of understanding around water management back home and how deliberately our farmers think about efficiency and environmental performance. We’re definitely not short on capability. We should be proud of the standard our irrigators set every day.”
A key contrast between New Zealand and the US wasn’t technical skill, but the environment around it, particularly the level of community backing, industry confidence, and investment in water security. Haidee says everything starts with reliable water.
“In the regions we visited, reliable water is treated as essential national infrastructure. That certainty gives growers confidence to plan, innovate and reinvest. Here, many Kiwi farmers feel they’re fighting just to hold onto reliability through every consent process. That can wear people down.”
Adding a national perspective, CEO of IrrigationNZ Karen Williams says the tour reinforced for her how reliable water becomes a strategic enabler for productivity and resilience when it comes to food production.
“Where water reliability is locked in, everything else follows – investment, innovation, generational succession, and community confidence in agriculture.
“The lesson from the US is that reliability isn’t purely an operational issue, it’s nation-building infrastructure. For New Zealand to keep leading the world in sustainable irrigation, we need the same level of long-term certainty behind it.”
It was clear that New Zealand growers are often the first globally to adopt technology.
“The same tools are available overseas, but Kiwi growers are often hungrier to find solutions that work in their environment,” says Sarah. “A lot of the technology that’s now used globally, like Precision VRI, was developed here for exactly that reason. We’re problem-solvers by necessity, and in many cases, adoption is faster here because our farming conditions demand it.”
New Zealand’s real opportunity now is re-energising industry pride, especially through earlier public engagement with food and water literacy. Haidee says what struck her most in the US was how early that connection begins.
“They’re taking agriculture right into primary schools. Dairy companies are bringing calves into schools and making it a whole learning project. It’s not just one pet day, but something kids work on over weeks, with real recognition for the care and responsibility involved. Industry is in there helping, not leaving it to teachers.”
She says that early exposure creates natural support for farming.
“That’s where the influence starts. When kids grow up seeing agriculture as part of their everyday life, of course they’re proud of their farmers. We’re not doing that here in New Zealand, and by the time you get to high school or university it’s too late to create that connection.”
Sarah believes New Zealand’s primary sector has the knowledge, the tools and in many cases we’re already world leading in many aspects.
“The risk isn’t our capability but rather losing the passion that drives it. It’s vital we nurture and protect that.”
