We want swimmable rivers
Our Solutions
The Green Party will require as a minimum that all water bodies be safe for swimming in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, rather than the current ‘safe for wading and boating’ standard. To do this, we will:
- Develop national standards to limit the amount of pollution going into water
- Put a levy on pollution going into rivers. We’ll use this money to support sustainable land and water management programmes like freshwater habitat restoration.
- Put a hold on all new conversions of land to dairy farms
- Require resource consents for more intensive land uses
- Introduce rules that require all farms to be fenced from rivers and creeks, and for riverbanks to be planted so that excess run-off is absorbed
- Ensure Māori are recognised and supported in their role as kaitiaki of their taonga and tikanga.
- Look at how urban design can reduce stormwater pollution from entering rivers
- Upgrade and invest in sewerage systems that dispose sewage onto land rather than water, where appropriate
- Introduce a charge on water used for irrigation. Those who profit from water use should pay for the privilege
- Keep wild rivers wild by not building new water storage schemes
- Wind up Crown Irrigation Investments, a subsidy used to fund water storage and irrigation scheme