13 September 2017
Media Release
Business applauds farming efforts to clean-up rivers – city-based politicians should too
The ambitious goal farming leaders have set to make New Zealand’s rivers swimmable for their children and grandchildren
deserves widespread recognition and support – “especially from city-based politicians,” says Auckland Chamber of
Commerce head, Michael Barnett.
“They should stop making environmental clean-up policies from the city without first checking out what is happening in
the countryside.”
Over the past decade thousands of kilometers of river edges have been fenced off to prevent stock straying, and a wide
range of changes made to farming best-practice.
“If we are going to be so demanding of farmers to clean up rivers and lakes, as the Greens have just announced, we
should be equally demanding on ourselves to work harder to clean up our own backyard.
“As I have said previously, it is a disgrace that Auckland continues to allow raw sewerage to enter the Waitemata
Harbour.”
The Farming Leaders’ Pledge campaign unveiled last month to accelerate efforts to improve rural river water quality,
deserves to be matched by city councils and others with responsibility for the clean-up of our harbours and beaches,
said Mr Barnett
ends