Story: South Canterbury region

Irrigation and dairying

Irrigation and dairying

A child looks into a South Canterbury water race. Because of the dry climate, irrigation was vital to the development of South Canterbury dairying. From the 1990s many farmers sold out to newcomers who switched from sheep to more lucrative dairy production, raising the demand for irrigation. This has increased pressure on already tight water supplies.

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South Canterbury Museum
Reference: 4620

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How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'South Canterbury region - Farming, 20th century onwards', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/11402/irrigation-and-dairying (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by John Wilson, updated 1 Feb 2017