Govt must start phase out of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser

Responding to new research showing the link between cancer and nitrates in drinking water, the Green Party is calling on the Government to immediately start phasing out the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.

“We can have a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector that is good for farmers, good for people, and good for the planet. By phasing out the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser we can tackle the climate crisis and create a more resilient system that supports farmers and growers, and protects our land and our water,” says Eugenie Sage, Green Party spokesperson for environment.

Research published this week shows nitrates in drinking water could be associated with a health burden of up to 100 colorectal cancer cases and 40 deaths in New Zealand every year.

“Currently, the cap on nitrogen fertiliser application is far too high. The evidence is clearer than ever that nitrogen pollution is bad for the health of people, our waterways and the climate. Minister David Parker needs to lower this cap and commit to phasing out the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser entirely.

“The Minister should also set a limit of 1mg/L for Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen in water in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

“As the Government moves forward with its Three Waters reforms, the new agency Taumata Arowai must prioritise getting a comprehensive understanding of nitrate contamination in council and community drinking water supplies around Aotearoa.

“We must make good on our commitments to reduce emissions now to ensure we have a stable climate for our kids and grandkids in the future.”

ENDS

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

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

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

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

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

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

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

Green Party calls for stronger action by Auckland Council to protect urban trees and native forest

The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and repla...

You wood not believe it: Greens secure win for urban trees

The Green Party’s advocacy has secured an amendment to the Natural and Built Environment Bill at a crucial stage of the Parliamentary process to en...

Forestry sector must compensate for slash damage

The Green Party welcomes today’s release of the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into slash and sediment, and are clear that the forestry industry...

Greens launch petition to protect conservation lands from mining by Mineralogy International Limited

The Green Party has today launched a petition calling for conservation land to be protected from mining by big overseas companies such as Mineralog...

National's drought of ideas won't help farmers facing climate change

Christopher Luxon and the National Party have once again presented another lazy, back-of-the-napkin policy to Aotearoa.

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...

Story

Only the Green Party will deliver free dental care for all

With more Green MPs we can build on Labour’s announcement today and make dental care free for everyone.

Greens release dental stories collection

The Green Party has today released a collection of stories showing exactly why dental care should be free in Aotearoa.

Marama Davidson Free Dental for All Speech

Ata mārie and welcome.

Green Party promises free dental for all

The Green Party is today promising to make dental care free for everyone in Aotearoa.

Tell us the tooth: Green Party asks Aotearoa to tell their dental care stories

The Green Party are today launching a campaign asking for people to submit their stories of what it’s really like taking care of your oral health i...

Greens urge all political parties to support amendment to ban big pharma ads

The Green Party plans to table an amendment to the Therapeutic Products Bill to ban direct to consumer advertising for prescription medicines.

Story

Cabinet’s emissions pricing plan leaves too much to chance

Only the Green Party has a plan to reduce agricultural emissions at the scale and pace needed. The Labour Cabinet’s plan for pricing agriculture em...

Greens celebrate passing of Organic Products and Production Bill

Following decades of work by the Green Party alongside the organics sector, people will finally be able to be confident that products labelled orga...

Report shows reducing actual farming emissions vital

Evidence shows that relying on offsets to reduce agriculture’s impact on the climate will not work, the Green Party says.

Government handing Fonterra a free pass

Minister O’Connor should immediately pause the Government’s proposed Fonterra Bill and review its potential impact on the climate, the Green Party ...

Pricing must cut agriculture emissions

Cutting climate pollution must be the number one priority for Cabinet when considering how it intends to price agricultural emissions, the Green Pa...

Agricultural emissions proposal falls short

The He Waka Eke Noa agricultural emissions pricing proposal leaves more questions than answers, the Green Party says.