Andrew Paterson
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Anna Gillespie
Anna Gillespie is a founding member and co-chair of the Manuherekia Catchment Group. As well as running a finishing beef and dairy grazing operation on the family’s 400-hectare farm in Omakau with husband Ben, Anna is heavily involved in the Central Otago community and farming sector.
Looking after the land is a passion of Anna’s. Her family have installed kilometres of fencing on their farm and planted more than 20,000 native trees and shrubs. They have run propagation days with local groups and schools on the farm providing education and guidance on native plantings.
Anna was instrumental in securing the Manuherekia Catchment Group’s successful Exemplar Project bid that saw $2.9 million in Jobs for Nature funding secured for the Thomson’s Creek project. The installation of a barrier preventing trout and perch from moving upstream where they pose a threat to Galaxiids has been a stand-out success for the group and a highlight for Anna.
Building on the Group’s successes and securing consistent funding is a key goal for Anna: “It’s full steam ahead. There’s a lot to do.”
In addition to chairing the Manuherekia Catchment Group and work on farm, Anna is also Vice President of the Federated Farmers Otago Provincial Executive.
“It took a lot of work getting everyone involved and it has been a standout success”.
Josie Lake
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Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly has long been a proponent of water conservation and was a core committee member of the Manuherekia Catchment Group from the outset.
“Getting everyone in the community and catchment on board is a key focus of the Manuherekia Catchment Group and providing education about the value of water and irrigation conservation.”
Based in Galloway, Mike and his wife own a 10-hectare block where they farm sheep, and have a 1ha walnut orchard. The couple have implemented several sustainable initiatives on their farm including switching to spray irrigation to use less water and reduce run off. They are also planting native trees and shrubs to improve the biodiversity in the area.
The Kelly’s farm includes 6ha of irrigated land with water sourced from the Manuherika River via the Galloway Irrigation Scheme.
It was Mike’s interest in irrigation, the river and environmental protection that led Mike to join the Otago Resource Water Resource Users Group Strategy Group, the precursor to the Manuherekia Catchment Group.
Mike brings a wealth of science and planning knowledge to the group, holding a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Master of Applied Science in Planning and Climatology, and having worked for years as a Planning Consultant for WSP Ltd in Alexandra. His role at WSP saw him working with landowners to source water permits for all purposes including irrigation and there are considerable crossovers with the work he undertook at WSP and that of the Manuherekia Catchment Group.
In addition to being part of the Manuherekia Catchment Group, Mike is secretary/treasurer for the Galloway Irrigation Society, which has a vested interest in the Manuherekia Mainsteam sub-catchment.
“Balancing flows benefits not only farmers but the whole community, ensuring there is water for the towns, for recreational use, and for farming.”
Ken Gillespie
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Harriet Jopp
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Stewart Craig
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Mary Flannery
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Phil Smith
The Manuherekia Valley holds special appeal to Philip Smith and his wife Janet. They are the fourth generation to work on Janet’s family sheep and beef farm on Blackstone Hill at Becks in the valley.
Cairnhill Farm is an 1800-hectare (ha) property that includes dry hill country, rolling downs, and 240-odd hectares of irrigated land including K-Line irrigation and pivot irrigators. Cairnhill has shareholdings in Blackstone Hill Irrigation Company, Omakau Area Irrigation Company, and private rights from the Becks Creek, Dunstan Creek, and an unnamed tributary on Blackstone Hill.
Phil has been with the Manuherekia Catchment Group since its formation and is also involved in the Dunstan Water Users Group, Board Chair of Omakau Area Irrigation, and a director on Falls Dam Company, Manuherikia River Ltd and Blackstone Hill Irrigation.
Environmental sustainability and water quality is a focus for Phil and his family. They have fenced off stock from waterways, ensure farming practices are not intensive, and are working to improve biodiversity on farm.
Cairnhill recently received a Gold Standard from the New Zealand Farm Assurance Plus Programme.The audit programme assesses integrity, traceability, animal health and welfare, people, farm and natural resources and biosecurity.
“Being part of the Manuherekia Catchment Group has broadened my perspective on how people farm and also the public perception of environmental sustainability.”
“We’re caretakers of the land.”
