18 May 2012

Forum Calls for National Bottom Lines and Local Solutions for Water Quality

The Land and Water Forum (LWF) today called for national bottom lines to be set for the state of New Zealand’s rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and aquifers.

In a report issued today, the LWF, a group representing iwi and key freshwater stakeholders, said iwi and urban and rural communities should then collaborate to develop specific water quality objectives for each catchment and identify local solutions to achieve them.

“New Zealand is a developed country with a significant industrial and agricultural base and an increasing population. Water quality will inevitably vary and not all of our freshwater will be pristine,” said LWF Chair Alastair Bisley.

“However, New Zealanders need to be confident that all the essential values and interests they have for water are maintained and enhanced.

“This means, for the first time, establishing some national bottom lines for the state of our rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and aquifers.

“Communities can then collaborate to set specific objectives for their catchments and limits on discharge and resource use, and decide the timeframes to achieve them, so we can maintain and improve the quality of freshwater in New Zealand.

“National bottom lines will be based on the mana and ecological health of our waterways, and human health needs. This will provide for fishing, recreation and food gathering at a basic level across all catchments. Communities can then decide to set higher levels suitable for particular places.”

The Forum’s second major report provides a national framework within which Regional Councils will work with their communities and iwi to set freshwater objectives and develop limits for its use.

It provides a consistent and transparent process for setting objectives and limits, and one that will lead to effective and enduring outcomes, including greater certainty for investment and development.
“The way in which water issues have traditionally been decided has ultimately benefited no one,” said Mr Bisley. “We all agree we need to do better for the sake of both the economy and the environment.”

The Forum will continue to work on a third report to the Government which is due later this year. This report will deal with ways of managing within limits, including allocation.

The Land and Water Forum is an independent body which the Government asked to provide a consensus view on how we can improve the management of New Zealand’s freshwater resources. Its report can be found here: www.landandwater.org.nz/report

ENDS

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