Dirty Dairy Accord failing to clean up rivers

The first monitoring report of the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord fails to show progress on cleaning up our rivers since the Accord was introduced, the Green Party said today.

The Accord’s targets for stock exclusion are weaker than the previous clean streams accord and the auditor’s report highlights that the report’s progress on stock exclusion cannot be verified. The Auditor’s report also highlights that the target for nutrient management data was failed.

“The report shows the Accord is failing, we need less greenwash and more action,” Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said.

“The deadline for exclusion of stock was supposed to be achieved in 2012, the target was deferred and now can’t be verified.

“We can’t believe the figures in this report, because they are self-reported.

“Previous verification of self-reporting data highlighted massive errors – the verified figure was half what was claimed.

“It’s concerning that the proportion of farms with a nutrient management plan under the Accord has flat lined. It should be improving.

“The Accord is a public relations exercise, it is not cleaning up our rivers.

“Already signs are going up around New Zealand that rivers are unsafe for swimming, and dogs have died after exposure to toxic algae.

“This summer New Zealanders want to be able to pop down to the river to go swimming without getting sick.

“The Government’s weak bottom lines that don’t ensure our rivers are safe for swimming are leaving New Zealanders high and dry this summer,” said Ms Delahunty.

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