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Water

Protecting our lakes, rivers, wetlands, groundwater and streams

International research has shown that freshwater has become the new ‘gold’. Rivers throughout the world have been under increasing pressure to provide not only for the necessities of life, but also for irrigation and hydro generation. The Green Party recognises that New Zealand rivers are no exception. Climate change is also predicted to impact upon our river systems, including reduced glacial storage and changes in rainfall patterns, frequency of flooding and drought events. The pressures placed upon our river systems (like Project Aqua) have meant that the protection of natural and intrinsic values struggles to compete with the rush for access to freshwater.

Labour leaves legacy of pollution

02 Oct 2008

The Labour-led Government should be ashamed for allowing the country’s waterways to become more polluted under its watch, despite Labour promising at the last election to make rivers safe for swimming in.

Coast suffers while council dithers over sewage

18 Sep 2008

It is ridiculous for Far North District Council to blame "greenies" for the council’s lack of long-term planning and for sewage problems created by the council, Greens Co-Leader Russel Norman says.

Ag. leaders beef-up pressure against river clean-ups

17 Sep 2008

Regional councils must resist new pressure from farming leaders who seem to want to stop council moves to enforce effluent consents and clean up rivers, the Green Party says.

Dirty Dairying - Oral Question

11 Sep 2008
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Dr Russel Norman MP questions the Minister for the Environment on the government's inaction on water quality issues.


Rivers too polluted for stock to drink from

10 Sep 2008

The Government can’t ignore a report on Waikato water quality out today that shows 70 percent of 78 rivers and streams tested were unsafe for swimming and more than 75 percent were unsafe for stock to drink from, Greens Co-Leader Russel Norman says.

Time to clean up our waterways - General Debate Speech

10 Sep 2008

One of the things that really matters in this country is the calamitous pollution of our rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Environment Waikato has just released a report showing that three-quarters of rivers in the Waikato region are unsafe to swim in, and about three-quarters are unsafe for stock to drink from. ...

Time to clean up our waterways - General Debate Speech

10 Sep 2008
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Click here to read the speech One of the things that really matters in this country is the calamitous pollution of our rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Water pollution from intensive industrial dairy conversions is threatening the water suppliers of Christchurch and Auckland.


Sewage ponds overflow at Lake Horowhenua

21 Aug 2008

Sewage ponds have overflowed at the Lake Horowhenua treatment plant with only new unlined earth banks keeping them from spilling into the lake. "This is turning out to be one of New Zealand’s worst sewage disasters in years," Says Green Co-Leader Russel Norman, "yet Horowhenua Mayor Brendan Duffy is still in denial. He needs to accept there is a major problem and take leadership on it or resign."
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