Tag Archives: New Zealand

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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Cleaner rivers – Morgan Foundation steps up

Communities all over New Zealand are working together to reverse the declining state of our waterways. That’s the good news – people care about our beaches, rivers and streams. And many of them care so much that they’re getting stuck … Continue reading

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We can do better – NZ’s Land and Water Forum releases its final report

Water is without doubt, critical to our well-being and to our posterity as a nation. Most of us might also agree that all too often, we New Zealanders do a less than brilliant job of managing such a precious resource. … Continue reading

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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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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

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

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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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

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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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

Posted in Environment, Kapiti, Uncategorized, water | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments