To make the Wairua safe for swimming, the Green Party will:

• 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.
• Require as a minimum that all water bodies be safe for swimming in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, rather than the ‘safe for wading and boating’ standard.
• 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 in cases where the proposed land use is more intensive than the current land use.
• Ensure Māori are recognised and supported in their role as kaitiaki of their taonga and tikanga.

Read more about our solutions to the freshwater crisis