8 August 2013

Environmental Bill provides consistency

Federated Farmers welcomes the Government’s Environmental Reporting Bill, which will produce consistent and independent reporting on water quality in New Zealand.

“This Bill will ensure water quality will be measured consistently across country, taking uncertainty away from the debate,” says Ian MacKenzie, Federated Farmers water and environment spokesperson.

“Agriculture has already made a huge investment in water quality and riparian management. These reports will tell us how much of an improvement we are seeing from that investment and give us clear advice on where the problems lay.

“Some reporting is showing we are already seeing benefits from investments so when the next report comes out we would hope to see further improvements, but either way it is going to give us a good indication of where we are at.

“The Bill will give good reliable data so we can focus our efforts on where it will make the most difference. If it identifies and clarifies the sites of where the cause/source of the water quality issues are then it will make it very clear what actions need to be taken.

“I have a good feeling about this.” Mr Mackenzie concluded.

ENDS

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