Water quality results reinforce need for action
Hundreds of water samples taken from Ōtūwharekai Ashburton Lakes and streams over the past year confirm that water quality remains a concern, according to Environment Canterbury.
SIGNIFICANT WORK is already underway to address water quality issues raised by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, DairyNZ says.
It was commenting on a report released today by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) entitled Water quality in New Zealand: Land use and nutrient pollution.
DairyNZ's strategy and investment leader for sustainability, Dr Rick Pridmore says while the report looks at the impact of land use change and nutrients on water quality by 2020, the reality is there are already central and local government and industry initiatives in progress that define how New Zealand's freshwater resources are managed.
"We are working with farmers, regional councils and other stakeholders to contribute to desired water quality outcomes," says Dr Pridmore. "The PCE's report highlights the critical importance of this limit setting process, because uncontrolled growth is unsustainable. Unfortunately the PCE's report paints an unrealistic picture of the future that ignores this limit-setting process."
Dr Pridmore says under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, communities are required to define their values and set limits for water quality. There is multi-stakeholder support to do this in a collaborative process.
"We are pleased to see the PCE recognising our industry's Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord and its commitments on fencing of waterways, water, nutrient and effluent management," says Dr Pridmore.
Fonterra farmers will have already fenced 24,400km of waterways in the next weeks to meet the demands of the water accord.
"We are stepping up as an industry and taking our responsibilities seriously. Progress will be independently audited by a third party and is being robustly implemented through supply agreements," says Dr Pridmore.
DairyNZ, on behalf of dairy farmers, has increased its investment in the environment by over 60% to $11m this financial year, with key projects under way.
In the Upper Waikato, 700 farmers are working collectively to improve the health of the Waikato River, with more than 3000 actions on-farm already underway. Similar work is happening around Lake Rotorua, the Manawatu River, the Hurunui River and the Waituna Lagoon.
"We are working openly and constructively with every regional council in the country", says Dr Pridmore.
"We are confident that this partnership will achieve a positive outcome for our communities, our economy and our environment."
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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