Category Archives: water

Porirua harbour strategy working

Good news – a big increase in cockle numbers has shown up in the latest survey by Guardians of the Pauatahanui Inlet (GOPI). This signals that the intent of Porirua’s Harbour and Catchment Strategy (2012) is being realised, with a … Continue reading

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Water cooperation in action – LAWA tells our water story

New in 2014, a unique and powerful way for communities to gather and share information about their waterways. LAWA is the short name for Land, Air, Water, Aotearoa, a web tool designed to give the public access to data on … Continue reading

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World Water Day 2014 – the water and energy nexus

March 22 is coming around again and this year UN World Water Day is highlighting the critical link between water and energy use. Following on from 2013’s year of events in celebration of the UN International Year of Water Cooperation, World Water … Continue reading

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Water, water everywhere…

March 22 is UN World Water Day. An auspicious day for water on the global calendar, though New Zealand’s activities on this day fall largely under the radar. It’s an especially big day this year. 2013 is the UN International … Continue reading

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Life on a Seamount

Seamounts are underwater volcanoes that haven’t broken the surface of the ocean. When they do, they are islands. In July, an eruption in the Kermadec Seamount range, northeast of New Zealand, threw thousands upon thousands of pumice pieces up to … Continue reading

Posted in Earthquake, Environment, Geology, water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Have enough farmers cleaned up their act?

I have great respect for Jon Morgan who writes for the Dompost. His article Farmers really have cleaned up their act (Dompost 16/11/2011) begs some questioning though. Yes, I imagine most kiwis would agree with Jon – Most of us would agree … Continue reading

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National – declaring war on rivers?

Green’s co-leader Russel Norman said this morning on Radio NZ National that the current government’s promise to fund irrigation infrastructure out of asset sales is akin to it making a declaration of war on our rivers. Is that a fair description? … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Resource Management Act, Uncategorized, water, water management | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Freshwater in NZ – Auditor General unimpressed by ‘forgiving’ Regional Councils

Regional Councils are too forgiving – and our waterways are the worse for it. Kevin Parris from the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate is undertaking a report on water quality in OECD nations. Interviewed on Radio NZ National this morning, he was … Continue reading

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Green growth in NZ – a case of once over lightly?

The Resource Management Amendment Act (RMAA 2009) seemed like a good idea at the time – and so did the Green Growth Advisory Group. The National government’s 2009 amendment to the Resource Management Act 1991 is intended to streamline and … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Environmental issues, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Resource Management, RMA 1991, Uncategorized, water | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mining lignite in Aotearoa NZ – a price too high?

Interested in what’s on the horizon in respect of our natural resources – including freshwater? Two reports released in August are worth your attention. Lignite and Climate Change: The High Cost of Low Grade Coal is a report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Geology, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Resource Management, RMA 1991, Uncategorized, water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Avoiding the race to the bottom: The RMA – what does it mean to water in NZ?

Water is our national treasure – our toenga. It’s the reason free trade agreements with China and India might be win win. These vast nations, like the Middle East and the southern Great Plains of the US – are fast … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Resource Management, Resource Management Act, RMA 1991, water, water allocation, water management | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Christchurch Earthquake – information

Updated 23 March, 2012 – CERA announce more homes in red zone – 251 properties bordering the Avon River re-zoned from orange to red today. My Property – search by address to find the land zone and technical category that applies to your Canterbury … Continue reading

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Earthquake or drought: The joy of a bright orange – or green or blue – water tank

More than one billion people drink unsafe water, with children suffering most, from the illnesses and malnutrition that result. Following a disaster like earthquake, access to clean water is a priority, hastening recovery for communities, as with the water ‘sorted’, … Continue reading

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Underwater ‘rainforests’, world warming and more – on water

These water stories have my attention right now… Killer floods and landslides in eastern Sri Lanka where more than 360,000 people fled their homes…more Massive crop losses and 70 deaths in South African flooding since December, with eight out of … Continue reading

Posted in emergency management, Environment, flood, Uncategorized, water, water management, WSD | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dirty rivers and streams – time for a change

Thanks to PENNY WARDLE – The Marlborough Express – for this story. The Wairau is one of the South Island’s longer rivers – at around 170 km. Along its lower reaches are some of New Zealand’s foremost wineries… Dirty rivers … Continue reading

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Village planning ‘unplugged’

Here’s a walk through Porirua city’s village planning programme, meeting the people, seeing the places, the changes…for good. It’s not just our waterways that are benefiting from Porirua’s innovative village planning programme… Thanks to: Video Producer: Pamela Meekings-Stewart Field Director: … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Nick Leggett, Porirua, Uncategorized, water, WSD | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Earth – another good read

I caught bookblogger Graham Beattie reviewing some top reads for 2010 on Radio NZ National today, and wanted to share a quote from his blog. Beattie attributes it to author Margaret Coel: I noticed during takeoffs and landings I don’t … Continue reading

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Dancing at the Dead Sea and more – 3 books to read and read again

  My holiday reading has included re-reading three powerful narratives. These really hit the spot in terms of entwining a good read with science, history, adventure, questions, and to an extent – answers – to some of the pressing problems … Continue reading

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Mainland Farmers of the Year – amazing Averys

South Island Farmer of the Year is Doug Avery – what a well deserved win! Awesome farming family, the Averys, of Starborough Flaxbourne Soil Conservation fame (see earlier posts) have shown New Zealand that with clever, collaborative, systems thinking – … Continue reading

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Porirua’s Village Planning is a World Winner

Press Release, 8th November 2010 EMBARGO: 00:01 9th November 2010 UNEP LivCom Awards, Chicago, USA Cutting edge environmental projects from Canada, South Africa and New Zealand win praise at UN-backed global awards event. Four environmental and community initiatives from countries … Continue reading

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Affordable water – Porirua’s Water Guy shows you how to fix water leaks at your place

Porirua has been short-listed for the World’s Most Livable City by the United Nations. It’s innovative initiatives like this one that keep Porirua on track to securing a better future. Good on you Porirua – you’re one cool little city!! … Continue reading

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The price of water

Pauatahanui Inlet – rmm What price for water? In 2001, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan Williams observed that enhancing and advancing water management is primarily a socio-political challenge, rather than an economic or a technical one. Nearly ten years have … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Nick Leggett, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Porirua, Uncategorized, water, water allocation, water management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kapiti moves to secure their water supply

Kapiti Island – Image by rmm Just over a year after appointing a water project manager to work with the community and agencies to secure a better water supply, Kapiti District Councillors have chosen a river recharge project to boost water supply in … Continue reading

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Quickfacts on Canterbury Water

With nearly three quarters (70%) of New Zealand’s irrigated land, Canterbury uses more than half (58%) of the country’s total allocated fresh water. Near two thirds (65%) of hydro-storage capacity is in Canterbury – generating around a quarter of the nation’s … Continue reading

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WSUD in HafenCity: ‘Future-Adaptive Urban Development’

A picture (or a series of pictures) can tell so much more than words. Here is a link to a stunning example of water sensitive – urban – design: Worldchanging: Bright Green: HafenCity: A Case Study on Future-Adaptive Urban Development. Amanda Reed … Continue reading

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What is it to be Water Sensitive?

The goal of WSUD is to ensure water systems in and near urban environments are protected and repaired.  Very simply, WSUD – water sensitive urban design – is about understanding sites – or whole communities – and their opportunities. This … Continue reading

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Water Sensitive Design – the rural dimension

There is no ‘R’ in WSUD…and perhaps there should be. In light of NZ’s growth in dairy and wine-making, amongst other – potentially – thirsty industries with rural significance, should we not place as great an emphasis on water sensitive – rural … Continue reading

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