New Zealanders want to swim, fish, gather mahinga kai and enjoy freshwater as our parents and grandparents did. We also need clean water to drink and irrigation to support a sustainable economy. Our water is suffering as a result of urban development, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other human activities.

The Government proposed new requirements to:

  • strengthen Te Mana o Te Wai as the framework for freshwater management
  • better provide for ecosystem health (water, fish and plant life)
  • better protect wetlands and estuaries
  • better manage stormwater and wastewater, and protect sources of drinking water
  • control high-risk farming activities and limit agricultural intensification
  • improve farm management practices. 

The consultation closed on 31 October 2019. Manawatū River Source to Sea, a subnetwork of ENM, and Wildlife Foxton Trust, a member group, made written submissions, which can be viewed at the links on the right.