Irrigation NZ appoints new chief executive

News Release

May 18 2009

Irrigation New Zealand appoints new chief executive

Irrigation New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Curtis as the organisation’s new chief executive officer.

Curtis will take over the position from retiring chief executive Dr Terry Heiler who will now focus his work more specifically in an advisory and specialist project management role within Irrigation New Zealand (INZ).

Curtis is currently employed as a strategic advisor with the Hawkes Bay Regional Council where he is responsible for ensuring the uptake of best environmental practice processes with the primary industry sector.

His role has encompassed developing and implementing a dynamic water management framework for Hawkes Bay including crop water allocation framework, water meter strategy, working with irrigation communities to establish user groups and initiating research into knowledge gaps for crop water demand requirements in New Zealand, in particular the summer-fruit, kiwifruit and grape industries.

Highlights of his current role include the formation of irrigation user groups to explore future water management options, the initiation of water storage projects, the ongoing implementation of council based water meter business units and the preparation of technical and consent advice environmental hearings and the LTCCP.

He is also an active member of the irrigation industry as an owner and operator for the past seven years of a small vineyard in the Hawkes Bay.
In this capacity he has a strong understanding of irrigation from an on-farm perspective and has been the key driver in developing a number of industry working groups to improve communications and outcomes on behalf of farmers.

In announcing the appointment Irrigation NZ chairman Graeme Sutton said he is delighted that the selection process has produced a person of Curtis’ calibre.

“His industry knowledge, ability and personality will relate to both the farmer members and the officials at regional and national government levels,” Sutton said.

The multitude of inspiring water management concepts being investigated, trialled and implemented were a major draw-card for Curtis to the INZ chief executive position.

“There is still a fair way to go before the final solutions are in sight and that excites me as it’s going to require a lot of education, discussion and compromise by all community stakeholders to achieve the right outcomes for these concepts,” Curtis said.

“Ultimately I believe that win-win scenarios (economic, environmental, social and cultural) for water management in New Zealand are achievable. It just needs all community stakeholders to open their minds and visualise the big picture.
“Imagine what could be achieved if the time and money was being spent on solutions rather than litigation,” Curtis said.

Looking at the challenges ahead Curtis includes ownership of water, water use efficiency, demonstration of environmental performance and uniting communities as “ongoing biggies” for INZ.

Curtis is currently planning his move to Canterbury, with his wife and pre-school daughter, to begin employment with INZ on July 6 2009.

He will continue to receive the assistance of Dr Terry Heiler in an advisory and project management basis.

Graeme Sutton said it is intended that Heiler will continue to play a significant role within Irrigation NZ.

“His knowledge of the industry is far too valuable to let go completely but it is Terry’s wish to take a step back,” Sutton said.

“This is the next major step in a number that INZ has taken in its short history to keep a pace with the ongoing development happening in the water industry and to ensure the irrigation industry continues to have an effective voice.”

ENDS

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