Water storage should not be prioritised over waste and drinking water infrastructure in post-Covid public spending

 Thursday 11 June 2020

For immediate release

Choose Clean Water 

The Government should be putting public health first in its post-Covid spending, freshwater campaigners say, prioritising waste and drinking water infrastructure over water storage.

Campaigners from Choose Clean Water were disappointed to learn today that the Government has given $37.3 million for a water storage scheme in Northland, not for long overdue and essential improvements for waste, storm and drinking water infrastructure.

“We’re just emerging from a serious public health crisis and it is reasonable to expect that our Government would prioritise its post-Covid spending on projects to improve public health – that’s not what we’re seeing in today’s announcement,” says group spokesperson Marnie Prickett.

“Our three waters – storm, waste and drinking water – infrastructure has been neglected over many years and we know that councils have put forward projects to improve these services with post-Covid funding. Such projects would be a win-win for public health and economic stimulus through construction.”

“Upgrading drinking water infrastructure alone has already been costed out at hundreds of millions of dollars and the Havelock North Inquiry found that 721,000 people in New Zealand are drinking water that may not be safe.”

"Moreover, the group says, while the Government claims the water storage project is to protect Northland from the effects of climate change, the science to back these claims appears not to have been provided."

“Global analysis shows that seeking to reduce water use is a better way to develop resilience than building dams. Our Government should be showing the public the science upon which it is basing water storage decisions. We suspect there is no sound basis.”

“Water storage projects look like a plaster on a much bigger problem – our changing climate.” 

ENDS

Crucial policy missing from Government’s water announcement, say campaigners

Crucial policy missing from Government’s water announcement, say campaigners

11:30am Thursday 28 May 2020

For immediate use

Choose Clean Water NZ

Freshwater campaigners are frustrated the Government has delayed a crucial decision on nitrogen pollution for a further 12 months until after the election. 

“We have urged the Government many times to put in place clear and unequivocal limits for nitrogen pollution in rivers and streams, specifically a bottom line that protects ecosystem health.” 

“It is the main policy we have been asking for,” says Marnie Prickett, spokesperson for Choose Clean Water.

“It was also recommended by the Government’s own Science and Technical Advisory group that produced hundreds of pages of reports saying that to protect the health of rivers the bottom line should be 1mg/L for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN).”

“Likewise, submissions on the policy made by medical professionals supported 1mg/L because of the implications of nitrogen pollution for human health and the country’s drinking water.”

“But in today’s announcement, the decision on this bottom line has been put off until after the election.”

“This is a great disappointment to many of us who have campaigned for clear, strong freshwater policy.”

“The public will now need to wait until next year to see whether Labour comes through with the 1mg/L recommended by the scientific majority.”

“Polluting industries exploit gaps and ambiguities in policy, which is why this 1mg/L bottom line is so important.” 

At the same time, campaigners support a number of parts of today’s announcement.

“The other main policy we pushed for was a cap on nitrogen fertiliser use and we are pleased that the Government has announced that today. Capping nitrogen fertiliser use is an important step forward, although at 190kg/ha/year it is set too high.”  

“On the deferred nitrogen bottom lines, we urge as a stop gap that the government introduces what’s called a “look up table” of default values for nitrogen to manage periphyton (a requirement brought in by the National Government) to guide Regional Councils in the interim.”

“The country has witnessed the benefits of government policy being based on best available science in our Covid-19 response. We need exactly the same approach on rivers.”

“We will be keeping on the pressure until the Government has brought in the necessary rules on nitrogen pollution in 12 months’ time.”

“Once the necessary bottom lines are finalised, implementation of freshwater policy will be by regional councils. Regional councils are vulnerable to pressure from polluting industries and need greater oversight by central government. We recommend a Te mana o te Wai/Waterways Commission is established as soon as possible to ensure regional councils protect the public and our rivers.” 

ENDS

For more information: Marnie Prickett, 022 161 2634, marnie@choosecleanwater.org.nz

www.choosecleanwater.org.nz

Strong water rules essential as new report shows most NZ rivers polluted

 A government report released today shows most New Zealand rivers are polluted, highlighting why strong water rules are urgently needed, say freshwater campaigners.

 The report shows most of our waterways are under stress and many are severely impacted.

In our response to the Covid-19 epidemic, the Government must not sacrifice the health of our country’s water by stalling long overdue freshwater reform as some have called for, says Choose Clean Water spokesperson Marnie Prickett.

Our Freshwater 2020, part of Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ’s reporting on the state of the environment, shows most rivers flowing through urban and rural land are polluted.

One per cent of the length of New Zealand rivers flows through urban catchments, half through pastoral catchments and six per cent through land dominated by forestry.

“Surely, at a time when health is front of mind for most New Zealanders, this report is yet more evidence that we need strong water rules to be finalised by this Government this year,” says Prickett.

“Water is the foundation for our country’s health. Our waterways are sources for our drinking water, where we go to play and gather food. Clean, healthy waterways support our mental and physical well-being.”

Moreover, the group says, healthy waterways are important for resilience in the face of a changing climate. The report states that freshwater habitat continues to decline.

“More than ever, the need for strong water rules is clear.”

“We urge the Government to listen to the evidence on freshwater, plan ahead and put us on the path now to protecting water for the long-term health and well-being of all New Zealanders.”

ENDS

Read the report here: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/environmental-reporting/our-freshwater-2020

Press release: Industry lobbyists and politicians – Don’t exploit Covid-19 crisis to push long-held agendas

Industry lobbyists and politicians – Don’t exploit Covid-19 crisis to push long-held agendas

For immediate use

10am Monday 23 March 2020

Choose Clean Water  

It is irresponsible and dishonest for agricultural industry lobbyists and opportunistic politicians to exploit the Covid-19 crisis for their unrelated political agendas, say freshwater campaign group Choose Clean Water.

Federated Farmers have called for freshwater reforms to be delayed in the face of Covid-19. However, this is exploiting a crisis to further their own interests and simply a continuation of the agenda they have been pushing on Government for years, long before Covid-19 arrived.  

Furthermore, opportunistic politicians appear to be using these lobbyists' calls to promote themselves in an election year, without regard for people’s health and well-being.

Clean water is the foundation of public health.

It has long been noted by public health professionals that water pollution from intensive agriculture is risking people’s health. 

Strong freshwater reforms would give greater protection to water for drinking and recreation, and these reforms have been argued for by the public for many years.

“It is particularly irresponsible to be arguing against the protection of the country’s fresh water at this time,” says Marnie Prickett spokesperson for the group.

The agricultural industry’s ability to produce and export products will continue through this crisis. Government decisions on freshwater reform will not change this. However, strong freshwater rules will help to protect public health over time rather than delay and face more health crises.

“With Covid-19 the public is seeing how important and reassuring it is to have government enact policies based on the advice of scientists and public health professionals. It should be the same for our water policy.”

“The Government should be listening to scientists and public health professionals on water policy not industry lobbyists.”

ENDS

"All we want for Xmas ... clean, healthy rivers"

Water campaigners have made a personal plea to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to deliver rivers safe enough to swim in, as scientists begin a new nationwide stocktake of their health risks.

At Ardern's Mt Albert electoral office this morning, members of the groups Choose Clean Water and Action Station dropped by a giant Christmas card, depicting the Prime Minister as Santa Claus and delivering a present labelled "clean, healthy rivers".

They were calling for strong water policy in 2020, after the Government announced a raft of proposed policy changes earlier this year.

"New Zealanders want to hand this important gift down to their kids and to do that we need the Government to deliver on its election promises," Choose Clean Water spokeswoman Marnie Prickett said.

Read the full article here.

Published in the New Zealand Herald.

Watch as critics fight to dilute freshwater policy

OPINION: The pollution of fresh water is hurting New Zealand. It hurts our people, communities, and wildlife. Left unchecked, it will increasingly hurt our economy by degrading our international reputation. This beautiful country deserves better.

The public have been demanding successive governments tackle our worsening water pollution. Freshwater was a top issue at the last election and the Government responded on Thursday with their Action for healthy waterways announcement.

Action Plan for Healthy Waterways puts forward a plan that holds great potential to deliver on the Labour-led Government's pre-election promises. However, for New Zealanders to have confidence that they will see their local rivers cleaned up, the final policy must land on the strongest options presented in the discussion document.

Read the full article here.

Published by The Dominion Post