The organisers suggest entrants should consider the following areas for their submissions:

• Technical Innovation – farm, orchard, vineyard or scheme technical advances in irrigation that add value to the process of ‘doing business’;
• Irrigation Enhancing the Environment – projects and research that will lead to environmental improvements;
• Resilient Communities – projects and research inclusive of people and society, cultural, economic and infrastructure benefits of irrigation.

Aqualinc has provided a $2,500 cash prize is awarded for 'The Best Innovation, Discovery or Achievement that makes a positive contribution, impact or benefit to irrigation in NZ'.

 Eligibility

• The prize can be awarded to an individual or team. Only one entry is permitted per person/team;
• Irrigation NZ encourages entries and nominations from irrigators, schemes, user groups, environmental groups, industry, and university students;
• The innovation may be new, or a reinvention or reapplication of an old technology;
• The innovation must demonstrate a clear, recent (last five years) or potential impact to irrigation in NZ;
• The individual or nominated team representative must be either a NZ citizen or a NZ permanent resident;
• For team entries one person must be nominated as the team representative. This person will be the public face for the innovation;
• The winning entrant will be expected to attend the INZ conference dinner to receive the award and also speak with media;
• The innovation must meet current ethical practice and have been carried out largely in NZ. 

Nominations close 31st January with entries required by 14 February. 

For more information contact Chris 0276 717705 or [email protected].