Water Programme of Action

Plentiful, clean water is part of New Zealand’s heritage. Managing our waters to make sure they stay that way – or are restored to this state – is a task for all of us.

Our rivers and lakes are valuable for many reasons – for drinking water, for the environment, for irrigation, for energy, for cultural values, for recreation and for tourism. It is important that we determine how to fairly use, protect and preserve water.

This is why the Government has embarked on a Sustainable Water Programme of Action, coordinated by the Ministries for the Environment and Agriculture and Forestry.

A new way forward for New Zealand’s freshwater management

The government has agreed to a new strategy to improve the management of freshwater, protect our freshwater resources into the future, and acknowledge the fundamental importance of water to all New Zealanders.

The strategy focuses on three national outcomes for freshwater:

  • Improve the quality and efficient use of freshwater by building and enhancing partnerships with local government, industry, Māori, science agencies and providers and rural and urban communities
  • Improve the management of the undesirable effects of land use on water quality through increased national direction and partnerships with communities and resource users
  • Provide for growing demands on water resources and encourage efficient water management through increased national direction, working with local government to identify options for supporting and enhancing local decision making, and developing best practice.

To achieve these outcomes, Government proposes a suite of actions.

If you want to read more about this you can download the:

The Minister for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture hosted a series of meetings in May 2006 to discuss the government's decisions in more detail.

See links below if you want to read more about the meetings:

Sustainable Water Programme of Action progress

National Environmental Standard for water measuring devices

The Government intends to develop a national environmental standard (regulations) for water measuring devices.

The intent of the proposed national environmental standard is to ensure the accurate and comprehensive measurement of water takes to facilitate the sustainable management of New Zealand’s water resource. This is consistent with the purpose of the Resource Management Act (1991) in promoting the sustainable management of water as a natural resource.

It would do this by:

  • Setting minimum requirements for all new water measuring devices that are installed; and
  • Defining situations where water measuring devices are compulsory.

A discussion document outlining the subject matter and rationale of the proposed standard has been prepared to assist people in making submissions.

Any person can make a submission on the subject matter of the proposed standard. Please include the following information in your submission:

  • Your name, postal address, phone number and e-mail address (if applicable)
  • That you are making a submission on the proposal to develop a national environmental standard for water measuring devices
  • Whether you support or oppose the proposal as detailed in the discussion document
  • Your submission with reasons for your views
  • Any changes you would like made to the proposed standard as detailed in the discussion document
  • The decision you would like the Minister for the Environment to make.

Submissions should be sent to: Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10362, Wellington or standards@mfe.govt.nz

Submissions close: 5.00pm, Friday 16 February 2007

See links below if you would like to read more about the proposed standard:

The Sustainable Water programme of Action process

In October 2004, Cabinet gave officials permission to consult with the public and interested parties on initial work done on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action. Read the cabinet paper outlining consultation on policy direction. In early 2005, the Government held meetings and hui throughout New Zealand to discuss the problems facing the water management framework, and to identify possible solutions. We also received about 300 written submissions.

Through this consultation process, we heard from hundreds of groups and individuals - local government, landowners, businesses, industry groups, sector groups, iwi, community organisations and individuals. While a diverse range of interests and views was expressed, some common themes emerged.

Drawing on this feedback, Cabinet has now approved a package of actions to be discussed and developed. Over the coming months, we will be discussing these proposals with local government and other parties and beginning to implement them.

It is very likely that some modifications and refinements will be made to the present proposals: the expertise, knowledge and experience of all those with a stake in water management will contribute to the framework that is finally implemented.

Reports from 2005 Public Consultation Process

Five reports, arising from public consultation on the sustainable Water Programme of Action are now available.

The consultation process, held at the beginning of 2005 generated thoughtful and comprehensive feedback across a broad range of perspectives.

The five reports cover the different areas highlighted through public meetings, workshops with local government, hui and written submissions.

The key themes are:

  • Decisions should continue to be made at the local level. There was, however, some support for national policy statements and/or national environmental standards
  • Central government should provide guidance and support for local government
  • Existing tools should be used to their full potential, rather than a complete overhaul of water management
  • Integrated management is important and the recommendations of the recent report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment “Growing for Good” were supported
  • There should be caution about the use of market instruments in freshwater management
  • The development of water harvesting and storage would greatly progress water allocation issues
  • Communities should continue to be strongly involved in finding solutions to water management problems.

To view the full reports, go to:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/water/

Background information to the discussion paper

The Water Allocation and Use paper identifies problems in our current systems of water allocation and use. It considers allocation approaches that would:

  • Enable sound decisions to be made about how much water should remain in water bodies and how much can be abstracted
  • Lead to allocation and facilitate reallocation of abstracted water to uses with the highest environmental, social, cultural and economic values, taking into account present and future needs in a fair and equitable way
  • Encourage technical efficiency in the use of water.

The problem addressed by the Water Quality paper is a lack of effective management of diffuse discharges of contaminants to land in some catchments, which contributes to poor water quality, especially in lowland rivers and lakes. Diffuse discharges are particularly a feature of the rural environment, as discharges in the urban area are more commonly concentrated at a specific point and controlled by resource consents. In addition, only 3% of the length of New Zealand’s rivers flows through urban areas. For these reasons, the project focuses on the impacts of rural land use, while noting that some issues for urban land use are likely to be similar and may be considered in future processes. Requirements for a good water quality management framework and potential actions that could be taken to improve the current framework are identified.

There is legitimate competition for the use and protection of freshwater. The Sustainable Development Water Programme of Action includes studies and reports which identify water bodies that are most important for various values. The main objectives of the Project are:

  • To develop methodologies to identify water bodies of national importance for a range of values including natural heritage, recreation, culture and historic heritage, irrigation, recreation, energy, industry, domestic and tourism.
  • To compile a list of freshwater bodies for each of the values identified above
  • To secure nationally important natural, economic, social and cultural values of water bodies

Separate maps have been developed for each sub-project (except for the cultural heritage and Maori heritage projects). The maps show which water bodies have been identified for each value. Note the maps have been prepared at a catchment scale and the relevant water body may only be part of the catchment. The maps should be read in conjunction with the reports.

The following reports on sub-projects of the Water Bodies of National Importance are available:

*Separate maps have been developed for each sub-project (except for the cultural heritage and Maori heritage projects). The maps show which water bodies have been identified for each value. Note the maps have been prepared at a catchment scale and the relevant water body may only be part of the catchment. The maps should be read in conjunction with the reports.

Contact for Enquiries

Water Programme of Action
Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10-362
Wellington
or
Water Programme of Action
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington Contact this person

 
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