We want swimmable rivers
What's the Problem?
Our rivers are not safe to swim in!
Our rivers aren't safe to swim in
because of water pollution from farms, factories, sewage and urban contamination.
Government's standards not good enough
their bottom line is wading and boating - not safe swimming
We can clean up our dirty rivers
and make them safe for New Zealanders to swim in again.
We will show how we can clean up
ten dirty rivers so they are safe for swimming again.
What's the solution?
Swimmable, not just wadeable
Require as a minimum that our rivers and lakes be safe for swimming in the National Policy Statement, not just the current ‘safe for wading and boating’
Clean farming
Fence farms from rivers and creeks, plant river banks to absorb excess run-off, and put a hold on new conversions of land to dairy farms.
Stop new pollution
Introduce a charge on water used for irrigation, wind-up government subsidies to irrigation and water storage, and put a hold on new water storage schemes.
Smart solutions to pollution
Develop national standards to limit pollution, a levy on pollution, urban design to reduce stormwater pollution, and invest in smarter sewerage systems.