Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Consultation on freshwater management ideas planned

Hon Dr Nick Smith
Minister for the Environment

Hon Nathan Guy
Minister for Primary Industries

27 November 2015

Consultation on freshwater management ideas planned

A report today published by the Land and Water Forum on the next steps needed to improve management of freshwater will be carefully considered by Government and help contribute to a public discussion paper to be published next year, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said today.

“The Government has an ambitious programme of work on improving New Zealand’s freshwater management. These ideas on requiring good management practice, of how we can maximise the economic benefit of water within environmental limits, integrated catchment management, stock exclusion and enabling more efficient use of water are a further contribution on how we can achieve that,” Dr Smith says.

“I acknowledge the Forum’s significant efforts in tackling difficult policy challenges and we welcome their recommendations,” says Mr Guy.

“The detailed proposals from the Forum on excluding stock from waterways are a major step forward. The comprehensive recommendation to exclude pigs, deer, dairy and beef cattle from waterways in New Zealand relative to the type of farming terrain and the timetable for achieving it provides a sensible way forward. Getting all parties to agree on this proposal is a good result, and we intend to publicly consult in early 2016.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“The proposals to require more efficient use of water through farmers adopting good management practice and enabling water to be allocated to where it gets the most productive use are also constructive.”

“The influence of the Land and Water Forum is evidenced by yesterday’s Resource Legislation Bill incorporating their quite radical change to how plans are developed with the new collaborative planning process. The legislation includes the regulation-making powers to be able to implement their latest ideas on how to fence rivers, lakes and wetlands from stock. The Bill also provides for an integrated National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standard as recommended by the Forum and which will enable these tools for freshwater management to be strengthened,” Dr Smith says.

“I welcome the commitment of the Land and Water Forum to maintain this momentum and to move onto the next part of its mandate. These are the important issues on how to include the MCI and more effective nutrient controls to limit algal growth in rivers and lakes in the National Policy Statement and we welcome the Forum’s input on these,” Dr Smith says.

“The Government is drafting a discussion document on the next steps on freshwater management for public consultation next year. This report and our discussions with iwi leaders on freshwater will be carried into this paper. We will not be making decisions on these ideas until after all New Zealanders have had an opportunity for input,” the Minister concluded.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.