He Waka Eke Noa is a partnership to reduce primary sector emissions. It involves working to equip farmers to measure, manage and reduce on-farm agriculture greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. This is to enable sustainable food and fibre production for future generations.
The Government has partnered with the primary sector and iwi/Māori to equip farmers to measure, manage and reduce on-farm agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
This includes collaboration on the detailed development of an appropriate on-farm emissions pricing mechanism, which will come into effect in 2025.
He Waka Eke Noa is working towards:
The programme objectives are based on the document: He Waka Eke Noa: Our Future in Our Hands [PDF, 171 KB].
Find out more about the partnership on the He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership website.
The milestones for He Waka Eke Noa, as well as provisions to determine whether progress is being made, are legislated through the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Act [New Zealand Legislation website].
There are 11 key agriculture sector organisations working together under He Waka Eke Noa. These include Māori agribusiness interests and two government departments.
A Steering Group has been appointed by the Government and the Food and Fibre Leaders Forum to provide oversight and ensure delivery for farmers and growers. The Steering Group is chaired by Michael Ahie.
The partnership is supported by a programme office consisting of a programme director, programme manager, communications and engagement advisor and programme support.
Read the overview of the programme structure [PDF, 228 KB]
Read the Terms of Reference for the Steering Group [PDF, 208 KB]
To deliver information, tools and support to farmers and growers, a number of work streams have been set up to work on specific issues. Each work stream is co-led by two people representing industry and government perspectives and has a team of people from partner organisations. Each work stream will ask for input from farmers and growers through partners’ established networks. They will also draw on subject-matter experts as required.
The work streams are:
Michael Ahie is Chancellor of Massey University, and Chair or a Director of several primary sector groups including Spring Sheep Milk Co and the New Zealand Plant Market Access Council. He draws on his experience growing up in a farming community in coastal South Taranaki and his previous executive roles with Toyota New Zealand Ltd, the New Zealand Dairy Board and Wrightson Ltd. Of Taranaki, Ngā Ruahine and Ngāti Ruanui descent, Michael lives in Wellington, New Zealand.
Michael Ahie talking about He Waka Eke Noa.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64r-KYXH0kY
Martin is responsible for leading the new Sustainable Land Use Delivery function. This will ensure delivery of policies such as the NPS Freshwater, He Waka Eke Noa and budget funding for freshwater restoration. Martin has over 20 years experience in environmental policy and delivery including time with Federated Farmers, Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council, and Ministry for Primary Industries. He had his first spell with MfE in 1997-99 and has been back with the Ministry since 2017. He led the freshwater policy reforms.
Julie is responsible for policy and trade matters across primary industries, including agriculture and horticulture, fisheries and forestry, having recently stepped into this role following a position as Deputy Director-General for Te Uru Rākau. Julie has more than 30 years’ experience in forestry and land use policy. She previously worked for the New Zealand Forest Service and its successor, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This work involved the valuation of Crown forests, conservation policy for indigenous forests on private land, and incorporating forestry and agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Julie also spent 15 years in the UK and held a senior role with the Forestry Commission, leading one of four England Forestry Strategy programmes. She worked with the forest industry to identify and solve their business issues and led work on renewable energy, grant development, and sustainability initiatives.
Vaughan hails from the eastern Bay of Plenty tribes of Whakatohea (Mataatua) and Ngai Tai (Tainui), and has worked for and with tangata whenua across the motu throughout his career. Vaughan is Chief Executive Officer at Waikato Regional Council who have reduced their carbon emissions by 30% since 2017, have led the development of the Waikato Climate Action Plan, and co-manage the Waikato and Waipa rivers with Waikato River Iwi. He has helped lead the regional sector’s involvement in the government’s freshwater reforms and use of farm plans.
Tanira is the Research Leader in Primary Industry Systems at Scion and Science Advisor to the Federation of Māori Authorities. Tanira has a background in agricultural economics and farm systems and before joining Scion was with Massey University and AgResearch looking into land use change and freshwater and GHG mitigation modelling, more recently funded by NZAGRC. Tanira has tribal affiliations to Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Rangitihi, Te Arawa nui tonu and Ngati Awa.
Bruce has been a strategy and investment leader for DairyNZ since March 2001. The strategy and investment team is responsible for investing the farmer levy. Before joining Dexcel (now DairyNZ), Bruce spent 15 years with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and AgResearch, where he worked in soil science and catchment management, including hill country and lowland studies.
Karen is a National Board Member with responsibilities for Transport, Biosecurity (plants), Fire, and Hazardous Substances, and is the National Arable Chairperson at Federated Farmers. She farms a 224ha mixed cropping and beef and lamb finishing property at Gladstone in the Wairarapa with her husband Mick and three children. Karen has a background in resource management and policy development where she worked for local authorities and a planning consultancy. Karen and her husband are former winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for the Wellington Region which recognises environmentally and economically sustainable farming businesses, and she is a graduate of the Agri-Women’s Development Trust ‘Escalator’ Programme.
Charlotte is the director of On Farm Excellence at Fonterra. Charlotte has developed and led the implementation of many Fonterra programmes including the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord and Tiaki Sustainable Dairying. She has also represented Fonterra on numerous national bodies guiding the development of environmental policy in New Zealand, including the Land and Water Forum and National Board of Use of Overseer in Policy. She has also lead Fonterra’s input into national and regional policy development.
Jeremy is the Chief Insights Officer for Beef + Lamb New Zealand. He is charged with analysing the risks and opportunities facing the sheep and beef sector; identifying what the sector needs to know; and helping people decide what action to take in response to those issues. Jeremy’s background is in Strategy.
Michelle leads the Natural Resources and Environment team at Horticulture New Zealand. Her focus is to draw on my technical experience to provide policy advice that is informed by science. Michelle’s background is in hydrology and water quality.
Read an article by Michael Ahie on He Waka Eke Noa: Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership
Ask questions or give your views to the programme office by emailing yourfeedback@hewakaekenoa.nz.