MEDIA STATEMENT
16/11/2022
IrrigationNZ honours product with valuable gains and efficient water use in the 2022 Innovation in Irrigation Award
Achieving short-term productive advantages combined with efficiency and long-term sustainability all in one product is rarely achieved in the irrigation industry but was the clincher for H2Ortigator to take out this year's award.
The Biennial IrrigationNZ Innovation in Irrigation Award sponsored by Ballance Agri-nutrients celebrates, encourages, and promotes innovation, alongside the positive initiatives being undertaken in our communities with, and because of, irrigation.
H2Ortigator is a way of managing scarce water resources during a replacement tree’s establishment phase which will become increasingly important in New Zealand in coming years, designed and developed by Brendan and Hayley Hamilton from the Hawke’s Bay.
The two other finalists selected were Robinson SDI and Emrgy Hydropower, but the judges panel commented H2Ortigator drew their attention to its practical, well-designed system for nurturing young trees, and could see how the unit will enhance the economic, social, and environmental aspects of irrigation in horticulture and is a product with good market potential. This innovative product delivers short-term productive gains combined with efficient water use and long-term sustainability – rarely are all three achieved in one product in our industry.”
IrrigationNZ Chief Executive Vanessa Winning says technology across the primary sector is continually evolving and especially in the irrigation sector, which is crucial as we continue to learn ways to improve the use of the valuable resource of water.
“All entries had water use efficiency at front of mind, and we enjoy having an opportunity to highlight these excellent initiatives and the time and effort that has been put into developing them.”
Ms Winning says IrrigationNZ is grateful to Ballance Agri-nutrients for sponsoring the prize which allowed the winners to take home a $2500 cash prize.
Click here to find out more about the award winner and finalists.
See image above after receiving their award at the 2022 IrrigationNZ Awards Evening: James Gardner (National Farm Sustainability Manager Ballance Agri Nutrients), Brendan Hamilton (H2Ortigator) Keri Johnston (IrrigationNZ Chair), Hayley Hamilton, ( H2Ortigator).
For further comment contact:
IrrigationNZ Communications Manager: Ella Stokes estokes@irrigationnz.co.nz
Brendan Hamilton: info@h2ortigator.co.nz