Government’s solutions to water crisis are a band aid on a broken leg

The Government’s weak strategy for cleaning up fresh water won’t undo years of abuse, unless we change our farming model, and take a hard long look at how we develop land in this country, the Green Party said today.

The comments come on the back of a report by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman, which found that some waterways are beyond tipping point and others will take decades to recover.

“When even National’s science advisor is pointing out how agricultural intensification has wreaked havoc on our waterways, you have to wonder why the Government is persisting in trying to double our primary exports and push for growth at all costs,” said Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

“New Zealanders told the Government that they want swimmable rivers, but National’s solutions to the water crisis will only see waterways further polluted by development. The Government’s solutions are just a band aid on a broken leg that future generations are being left to fix up.

“We need a moratorium on new dairy farms that will give us time to look at how we can change the farming model and reduce the number of cows on farms, and prevent their waste from polluting our rivers and leaching into groundwater. Nitrates from cow waste and over-use of fertilisers wash into our rivers and poison habitats for fish and other animals.

“All the riparian planting and fencing animals out of waterways won’t address the real issue affecting water in rural areas, which is that there are too many cows crammed into this country’s paddocks,” said Ms Delahunty.

Action

How to get involved - Treaty Principles

Information on how to make a submission, volunteer or run your own event.

Action

Submit for Climate Action

Submit today to ask the Government to commit to strong Climate Change targets.

Action

Treaty Principles - Make a submission

Join our submission. Let's make it clear that we do not support the Treaty Principles bill.

Action

Ditch the Bootcamps - Sign our petition

Sign our petition demanding an end to bootcamps for children.

Action

Build Dunedin Hospital

Take our poll on how the Government should spend its money, and email Christopher Luxon telling him your thoughts.

Action

Oil & Gas Quick Submissions 2024

Sign the quick submission to save the oil & gas ban!

Action

Stop Fast-track Destruction

Join our call to stop the Fast-track Approvals Bill.

Action

Protect te reo Māori

Sign our petition asking Minister Erica Stanford to keep prioritising the teaching of te reo Māori.

Action

Cut the Coal Petition | Join the movement

Fight back: Tell the government that coal mining is not our future.

Action

Protect Our Freshwater

Join our Green MPs in calling for the government to protect freshwater. Proposed changes to the Resource Management Act threaten New Zealand's...

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing Aotearoa. Volu...

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope

The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today.

Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation

The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin.

Fast-Track, off the rails: Submitters show strong opposition to Bill

Despite resounding public opposition, the fast-track legislation is being pushed through Parliament with provisions that could have real consequenc...

Govt’s shameful backtrack on marine conservation

The Green Party has condemned the Government’s late change to allow commercial fishing in protected areas in the Hauraki Gulf.

Trojan Horse approach to fast-track projects threatens environment

The Government’s fast-track list is another example of its reckless approach to the environment and disregard for due process.

Greens call for public to back Wrybill in BOTY and beyond

The Green Party is calling on the public to support the Ngutu Pare Wrybill not just in this year’s Bird of the Year competition but also in pushing...

Story

Greenpeace nitrates research proves need for strong freshwater regulation

The Green Party is welcoming the release of an interactive map which enables people to monitor nitrate levels in their drinking water.

Three waters rebrand insufficient

Today the Government adopted a long held Green Party position to increase the number of water entities to ensure a closer connection with communiti...

Freshwater crisis needs stronger government action

New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and freshwater are in crisis and there needs to be a more ambitious Government plan to clean them up and protect agains...

Changes needed to three waters plans

Greater local oversight and control, seven instead of four entities, stormwater staying with councils, and stronger safeguards against privatisatio...

National reckless on rivers

The opposition’s dangerous plan to scrap rules to improve the health of rivers and lakes around Aotearoa highlights the importance of having a stro...

Clean Water

From the maunga to moana, water is a taonga which must be protected, but too many rivers, lakes, and wetlands have been polluted over the years, an...