A former Tuapeka West man, Blake Holgate, has been appointed as Rabobank's national sustainable farm systems rural manager, which is a relatively new role for the bank.
Mr Holgate's appointment was announced last month.
The Dunedin-based appointment is one of a range of initiatives the bank is undertaking to help clients be competitive and adjust to environmental regulations.
From a sheep and beef farming background at Tuapeka West, Mr Blake has a master's degree in business administration from Otago University and originally practised as an environmental lawyer with Anderson Lloyd, Dunedin.
He was asked to write a paper for Rabobank about the impacts of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPSFM) strategy and, as a result, was offered the job as its sustainable farm systems rural manager.
''We see long-term challenges, which are evolving quite quickly,'' Mr Holgate said.
''We need to keep up to speed with the changes.''
He has been upskilling bank staff throughout the country on environmental issues.
''We can help clients understand the nutrient and water management strategies that will maximise long-term farm efficiency and competitiveness, raise awareness and help them understand their options.''
Councils throughout New Zealand were responding to the challenges raised by the NPSFM and each was implementing changes and regulations in different ways.
''My job is to keep on top of some of the trends.''
He said most farmers were ''very good custodians of the land'' and were willing to make the changes but where often unsure where to start.
They needed to understand the risks and issues associated with environmental management, including how farming practices impacted on the nutrient cycle and how to manage intensification.
He intended to run workshops throughout the country either later this year or early next year to help clients understand their environmental footprint and to offer solutions to problems.
''It is still in the planning process but we will be running a pilot in Otago,'' Mr Holgate said.
- by Yvonne O'Hara