Why an Essential Freshwater package?
The Government-commissioned report “Our Freshwater 2020”, which forms part of the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ’s environmental reporting series, found freshwater and the life it supports are under threat, particularly in urban and intensively farmed areas.
The report found New Zealand’s land uses result in excess nutrients (like nitrogen), chemicals, pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms), and sediment entering freshwater and causing harm. Water pollution is not the result of any single land use, but comes from the mosaic of urban areas, farms, and plantation forests found in many catchments.
Introduction of inappropriate species, modifications to natural waterways and changes to the courses in our rivers and aquifers have altered water levels and flows. This affects our freshwater and puts species at risk, reducing the benefits we receive from nature and affecting our connections to freshwater.
Read more about Our Freshwater 2020
In August 2020, the Government responded with national direction for protecting, enhancing, and preventing further damage to waterways, lakes, and streams with the release of its Essential Freshwater package. A fundamental concept across the package is Te Mana o te Wai, which means the first priority is to ensure the life-supporting capacity of freshwater. This package includes requirements for resource users, as well as direction for councils to engage with communities and tangata whenua to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai in regional policies and plans.
