Rural update September 2022
We are very excited this month to introduce our new Farm Lead, Magali Domingo! Some of you will recognise Magali (or Maggie) from her work with the Lake Wānaka Catchment group. Maggie will be working alongside groups to help coordinate meetings and activities to achieve their goals.
The B+LNZ workshop – On-farm Biodiversity with David Norton has been rescheduled for Friday September 30th. See below for details and email me to register.
UPDATES
Welcome Magali Domingo
We are excited to welcome Magali to our WAI whānau. Magali grew up on a farm in Argentina and decided when she was very young that she also wanted a career in agriculture. She completed her studies to become an Agricultural Engineer in 2010 (eq. Diploma Ag. Sc) and started her career in research specialising in soil conservation, carbon emissions and plant nutrition. She then moved to the field, providing technical advice as an agricultural consultant in Argentina and then Australia.
In 2019, she moved to Wānaka and started working at Rippon vineyard. Since then she has also been the caretaker of Bullock Creek and more recently the Project Administrator for the Wānaka Catchment Group. Magali and her husband Hayden have an 18 month old daughter called Catalina.
EVENTS
Farm Planning: Biodiversity
You’re invited to a pilot Beef + Lamb New Zealand workshop on Farm Planning:
Biodiversity with WAI Wānaka and Emeritus Professor David Norton
Date: Friday, 30th September 2022
Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm
Venue: Wanaka – TBC
Email to register or find out more
Come along to B+LNZ’s new farm planning biodiversity workshop. This hands-on workshop will help you identify and record on-farm and catchment scale biodiversity, discuss why it’s important and how further integration of biodiversity can add value to your farm business.
Ballance Farm Environment Awards
Registration is now open for 2023 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The Awards celebrate farmer and grower achievement and showcase good practice, enabling the sharing of positive farming and growing stories with all audiences.
By entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, farmers and growers are given the opportunity to have their businesses evaluated by a team of highly respected and experienced peers and agribusiness professionals. Constructive advice and feedback is given in an informal setting, with visits followed by a report offering commendations and recommendations.
Award judges take a holistic approach to the judging process by evaluating every aspect of the farm/ grower business including environmental management, productivity and profitability through to family and community involvement.
The regional BFEA evenings provide a valued platform for celebration, networking, and the sharing of ideas and resources amongst farmers, agribusiness professionals, community leaders and representatives from regional and national governments.
QLDC Elections 2022 – meet the candidates
Albert Town, Luggate, Hāwea & Mt Barker Resident Associations are hosting a relaxed and informal meeting with Mayoral and Upper Clutha candidates:
When: Sunday 25 September – 3 – 5 PM
Where: The Albie Function Room, Albert Town Hotel
This is not a “speech fest” but rather will allow our members to sit down and converse one-on-one with the Wānaka Ward & Mayoral Candidates. The event will be conducted “speed-dating” style so have your questions ready, find out their views and concerns and let them know what you think are the important issues in your region. All Mayoral, local Upper Clutha Community Board and QLDC candidates have been invited to attend.