11 Jul 2013

FOMA signs up to dairy industry's water accord

6:31 am on 11 July 2013

The Federation of Maori Authorities has signed up to a collaborative dairy farming agreement that vows to do as much as possible to keep fresh waterways clean.

The Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord is a partnership between Maori agribusiness and the dairy sector.

And its concept is based on kaitiakitanga (guardianship) over areas where people swim, fish and gather kai.

The Federation of Maori Authorities (FOMA) represents many Maori dairy farmers.

Chairperson Traci Houpapa says its members are entirely dedicated to the kaupapa of developing better dairy farming practices.

Ms Houpapa also acknowledges Irrigation New Zealand, DairyNZ, Miraka Limited and Fonterra for working together with FOMA for the common good of protecting waterways.