A call to protest Light blue text = a clickable link. To highlight pictures please click themI've received an email from Greenpeace's Rhiannon Mackie which begins: 'Right now, we have a short window of time to save one of the most positive, world-leading freshwater protections that New Zealand has ever had. The Government wants to get rid of them - but they don’t have to.' Then, after asking me to sign a petition, she continues: 'Luxon’s Government is currently planning to scrap a crucial freshwater protection called Te Mana o Te Wai, which sets out a list of priorities that must be met when people apply for the ability to use water. First priority is the health of the water. Second, water for people. And lastly commercial uses. It’s a world-leading policy because it explicitly states that the health of freshwater ecosystems comes first - but the Government wants to flip this list of priorities on its head.' RevisonsYes the government does want to 'flip this list of priorities on its head.' On the 23rd of April RNZ reported that Chris Bishop, the Resource Management Act Reform Minister, gave a press release announcing forthcoming revisions to the Act. As one of those revisions the government proposes to disregard Te Mana o te Wai. And Agriculture Minister Todd McClay went on to say: "removing the need for resource consents to show they could meet these requirements would better reflect the interests of all water users"'. The other view"Removing the need for resource consents to show they could meet these requirements would better reflect the interests of all water users" might well be contentious but one group of users is abundantly happy. Sudesh Kissun writing on the website Rural News reports that: 'Federated Farmers says changes announced to the Resource Management Act today mark the end of the war on farming. "These impractical rules have been a complete nightmare since the day they were introduced and farmers will be pleased to see the back of them," Federated Farmers freshwater spokesperson Colin Hurst says. "They were rushed through before the 2020 election by overzealous regulators with a complete disregard for those who would actually need to implement them behind the farm gate. "Farmers are always looking to improve environmental outcomes on their properties and to care for the land, but regulation needs to be practical, pragmatic and affordable."' Together?I've been searching the internet for accounts of Federated Farmers and Greenpeace getting together to explore their common ground – being New Zealanders – but I can't so far find any instances of their sitting talking in one room. For the moment we may just have to accept that they shoot at each other from a distance. A pity! Not just New ZealandAlthough today's post is very much New Zealand orientated, let's be aware that the question of giving freshwater priority is also worldwide. Here's a quote from the freshwater section of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 'While access to fresh water, in sufficient quantity, quality and availability, is fundamental to human life, health, well-being and dignity and is a human right, the ecosystems that provide this fresh water are under increasing threat. 'Freshwater ecosystems inland water bodies such as rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater aquifers, and their biodiversity, are among the most threatened on the planet. They are also fundamentally connected to, and interdependent on, other blue ecosystems along our coasts and in the ocean. As the global human population grows and develops so too, does the demand for fresh water for drinking and sanitation, hygiene and recreation, growing food, providing energy, and supporting biodiversity. At the same time, human activity and climate change are disrupting natural water cycles, putting freshwater ecosystems under increasing pressure.' What to think - what to doUNEP says, in an adjacent section to the quote I gave above, that : 'The protection, management and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and water resources is fundamental to combating the triple planetary crises of biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change. This forms the crux of UNEP’s global Freshwater Strategic Priorities, 2022-2025, which helps to implement UNEP’s Medium-term Strategy 2022-2025. UNEP at least has strategy. The government in Aoteroa NZ seems to be undoing strategy. It seems to be taking the lid off, to let whatever is in the pot of freshwater use, boil over. So despite Colin Hurst's fair points, I favour keeping Te Mana o te Wai in place, simply because it puts first the waterways themselves. And long term that's what we need. Could we advocate that to all and sundry – the powerless and the powerful – could we? □ Our country has many rivers. People like to play in them. Here are some of my family posing after having a swim in the Makuri River. My elder daughter and her husband own a bach (say 'batch') beside it. This river rises from springs in limestone hills, runs through some pastoral farming country but not through dairying. You can put your head under or dive in. Swallowing the water is fine. The water is clean and beautiful. Long may it remain so. □ John McInnes Friday 10 May 2024 ##########
0 Comments
|
Welcome
|