BNZ Appointment Reflects Growing Importance of Irrigation

Media release
19.10.12

BNZ Appointment Reflects Growing Importance of Irrigation Projects

Guy Ensor is on a mission to support some of the most critical infrastructure developments New Zealand will see this decade. He has been appointed BNZ’s first national manager, water and irrigation. The position has been established in recognition of the growing significance of the national freshwater resource.

“Our long-standing relationship with the agricultural sector has made us acutely aware that the sustainable management of New Zealand’s freshwater resource is absolutely critical to New Zealand’s future,” says head of agribusiness, Richard Bowman.

“All New Zealanders have a common interest in ensuring the country’s freshwater lakes, rivers, aquifers and wetlands are managed wisely. Guy’s specific combination of experience will ensure BNZ contributes to that,” he says.

A proud Cantabrian with a 17-year career comprising agribusiness, property and business banking and five years corporate finance structuring in London, Guy has a working knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s agricultural sector. Along with his wealth of knowledge Guy brings established working relationships with number of personalities and organisations within the agricultural sector, one renowned for its wide range of diverse stakeholder interests.

Based in Canterbury, where approximately 70 percent of New Zealand’s irrigation currently occurs, Guy is putting his experience to work streamlining the often complex process of developing and upgrading irrigation projects.

“With stakeholders from iwi to local and central government to scheme users and farming organisations through to our own banking experts, the process of developing this important infrastructure can often become fragmented, expensive and difficult,” says Guy.

The majority of the Canterbury Region’s existing irrigation schemes are currently investigating efficiency enhancements such as new pressurised pipe infrastructure to replace the traditional and inefficient open race design, as well as modern telemetry equipment. Many of these projects involve in site storage and in some instances hydro-generation.

With 22.2% share of the New Zealand agribusiness banking sector and circa $2 billion exposure in Canterbury alone, BNZ’s newest appointment reinforces the Bank’s investment in the future of one of New Zealand’s most critical sectors.

ENDS

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