Greenpeace is welcoming Environment Canterbury’s decision to declare a nitrate emergency, calling it a long-overdue acknowledgement of a worsening health crisis. But the organisation warns that real action must follow, and is urging election candidates to commit to stronger freshwater protections.

Greenpeace’s Canterbury-based spokesperson Will Appelbe says, "Canterbury is facing a nitrate emergency and today, Environment Canterbury has listened to the voices of their constituents and finally acknowledged the seriousness of this issue."

This morning, frustrated Cantabrians rallied outside ECan to demand urgent action to defend fresh water from nitrate contamination. Residents with high levels of nitrate ‘returned to sender’ jars of their drinking water, while speakers called on incoming councillors to reduce nitrate pollution at the source.

Appelbe says, "Up until now, Environment Canterbury has completely failed in their duty to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water from pollution from the intensive dairy industry. Their actions have meant that many families in Canterbury cannot safely drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap."

"It’s great to see ECan finally acknowledging the scale of this escalating health crisis, but the work doesn’t stop here. It’s one thing to sign onto a pledge but another thing entirely to meet it."

Today ECan councillors will leave their headquarters for the last time before jumping on the campaign trail to try to win Cantabrians’ votes.

"Candidates in the Environment Canterbury election must defend Canterbury’s freshwater by ending dairy expansion and phasing out the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. The question is, who will step up to the task?"

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