Government’s Next Steps for Freshwater ‘Unambitious’

The Government's Next Steps for Freshwater lacks any ideas or direction on addressing our continuing freshwater decline according to the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA).

David Haynes, President of the Federation of Freshwater Anglers says consensus has emerged with the Environmental Defence Society, Forest & Bird, Tourism Industry Association, Tourism Export Council, Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations NZ (CORANZ), the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, NZ Recreation Association and the NZFFA all identifying a lack of ambition and urgency in the proposals.

"Major structural issues over who has a say in freshwater, environmental imperatives and the importance of freshwater to tourism, recreation and our health & wellbeing are just not there." said Mr. Haynes. "Despite no-one suggesting rivers in spate or thermal springs laden with heavy metals should be swimmable for example, the refusal by Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment, to even contemplate such a standard flies in the face of what the people of New Zealand actually want" he continued.

The Federation warns that rights and interests in freshwater should not include ownership nor treat water as a tradeable commodity. Haynes said "Whether municipal water schemes in the UK or our own fisheries Quota Management System, such proprietary rights invariably lead to concentrating ownership into the hands of a few. The idea of our freshwater being owned by an offshore corporation, for example, is anathema to most Kiwis."

The Federation is urging the Government to set freshwater standards that put the environment and ecosystem health at the top of the freshwater management agenda, and to move from a $900M subsidised use-it-and-pollute-it economy to one which imposes royalties or licence fees on those who commercially benefit from freshwater and penalties to those who pollute it.

The Federation continues to work with a number of advocacy organisations to ensure all New Zealanders can enjoy recreating in clean and full rivers and lakes.

ENDS

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