Listening to, and acting upon sound advice, are two of the main reasons dairy farmers in the lower North Island are calling themselves heroes.

In the space of three seasons they have gone from 53 per cent to 92 per cent full compliance with resource consent conditions.

Federated Farmers Wairarapa dairy chairperson Graeme Stuart says farmers have a good story to tell because they are starting to get on top of point source pollution.

Graeme Stuart says effluent fieldays run by DairyNZ have been well attended and there is a hunger to learn more about what they can do as farmers.

He says Greater Wellington Council deserve credit for seeing farmers as part of the solution, not the problem.

And it makes economic sense.

DairyNZ estimates recycling dairy effluent as fertiliser can save a farmer, on average, $10,000-$20,000 every year.