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

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Proposals set pathway for much-needed improvement

Proposals set pathway for much-needed improvement in fresh water


Water New Zealand is urging the Government not to dilute the proposals in its recently released discussion document aimed at cleaning up the country’s freshwater resources.

In a submission on the Action for healthy waterways proposals, Water New Zealand says the Government needs to stand strong and defend the plan against vested interests seeking to avoid responsibility for activities and practices that have led to degraded water quality.

Principal Advisor Water Quality, Jim Graham says Water New Zealand supports an evidence-led approach to freshwater policy, underpinned by sound science. Science has identified and quantified the problems and the proposals provide solutions that are clearly based on that science.

He says the evidence is clear that high intensity agriculture, particularly dairying, has resulted in a serious decline in water quality in some parts of the country.

While Water New Zealand welcomes the approach outlined in the document and the proposed limits of nitrogen and other contaminants from agriculture and urban discharges, it has some concerns about the ability of Regional Councils to implement the proposals.

Jim Graham says that while many councils perform a range of important functions very well, some have a poor record of enforcing requirements of the Resource Management Act and conditions set in resource consents.

“Since 2008, Water New Zealand has undertaken an annual performance comparison of drinking, waste and stormwater services by local authorities.

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 National Performance Review shows a wide variation in consenting practices and a low level of enforcement for wastewater and stormwater non-compliance, with very few prosecutions. An unacceptable number of discharges operate on consents which have been expired for many years. This should not have been allowed.”

He says a likely reason for this is that the councils, though tasked with enforcement, are not specifically regulatory authorities.

“We need greater central government regulatory oversight and in the longer term, our view is that New Zealand would benefit from a central regulator covering drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and freshwater.”

Water New Zealand strongly supports the Te Mana o te Wai hierarchy of obligations and says a national discussion about Maori rights and interests in water is long overdue.

© Scoop Media

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


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... 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.