Kiwis want tougher water quality rules to protect rivers from polluters
Sunday, 27 January 2019
Over 80 per cent of New Zealanders want tougher rules to protect rivers, lakes and streams from pollution, a poll has found.
New Zealanders haven't ruled out regulations to farming when asked if they would support mandatory environmental standards for waterways.
Fish and Game chief executive Martin Taylor said the results were a 'wake-up call' for agriculture leaders and local government.
'For too long, local authorities have allowed intensive farms to become established in unsuitable areas and then protected them at the expense of local residents and the environment.
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'Enforcement of the rules has been weak.'
The result was dirty rivers and lakes choked with sediment, he said.
'In many places, New Zealanders have been robbed of the ability to swim, fish and gather food from their local waterways.'
Many farmers understood and were making changes, he said.
'The survey shows the public wants the government to toughen the rules so those who are not doing the right thing will be forced to comply.'
The nationwide poll was conducted in December for Fish & Game New Zealand by Colmar Brunton.
The survey results follow the release earlier this month of another Colmar Brunton survey for Fish and Game showing pollution of rivers and lakes is New Zealanders' top concern.
Of those surveyed, 82 per cent said they were extremely or very worried about the issue.
The second biggest worry was the cost of living, with 80 per cent extremely or very concerned, while the health system was in third spot on 78 per cent, with child poverty fourth on 72 per cent.
The survey was done at the beginning of December, before independent scientific tests for Fish & Game showed the presence of dangerous disease-causing bacteria and anti-biotic resistant E coli in popular Canterbury fishing and swimming rivers.
Martin Taylor said those results showed how bad the situation was.
'Anglers, holiday makers and health authorities were shocked and surprised by the findings. We only took samples from three rivers and yet all showed contamination by pathogens from ruminants like cows.
'If we ran the Colmar Brunton survey now, I would expect the results would show even greater concern about water pollution and even more people overwhelmingly in favour of tougher rules.'
Regional and district council politicians should start listening to voters' concerns, he said.
'Local body elections will be held later this year and the councillors who have allowed things to get so bad will be looking to be re-elected.
'These survey results show they might have a tough job getting back into office unless they start providing the leadership, commitment and backbone to turn this problem around.'