Govt moves to further weaken freshwater protections as new report highlights poor state of NZ drinking water – Greenpeace

Greenpeace says it is deeply disturbed by the findings of the latest Taumata Arowai report, which shows that seven registered water supplies exceeded levels of nitrate associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. The organisation says it is also concerning that this news comes while the Government is consulting on proposals that would further weaken freshwater protections in Aotearoa.

Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “This Government wants to weaken freshwater protections at the worst time, allowing polluting corporations like Fonterra to profit from the contamination of rural communities’ drinking water. This latest data from Taumata Arowai shows that, as we already know, water quality in New Zealand is poor. Now, Luxon’s Government wants to make it worse.”

“Everyone, no matter where they live, deserves to have access to clean, safe drinking water. We should all be able to take a dip in the local lake or river without getting sick. But these basic freedoms that all New Zealanders should be able to enjoy are being taken away for the sake of making a few individuals even more wealthy.”

During 2024, Taumata Arowai received 4 notifications of samples from registered supplies that exceeded the maximum allowable value of 11.3 mg/L for nitrate. Two were for Waimate District Council’s Lower Waihao supply, which supplies Glenavy, and two for Te Kowhai School, a rural school near Hamilton. Seven supplies exceeded 5.56 mg/L – the level of nitrate which international studies have shown is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.

“Rural communities are most at risk of contaminated drinking water because of their proximity to intensive dairying – a major source of freshwater pollution in New Zealand,” says Appelbe.

“Right now, this Government is consulting on a host of Resource Management Act changes that will, in practice, put corporate interests ahead of the health of people and the environment, especially when it comes to freshwater.

“These changes will give more prioritisation to corporate uses of water, like intensive dairy. This would enable dairy expansion, which means more effluent, nitrate and pathogens like E. coli polluting New Zealand’s rivers and drinking water.

“People across the country want change. They want clean, healthy rivers and water that’s safe to drink. In Canterbury, one of the hotspots of Aotearoa’s freshwater crisis, water protection is set to be a key issue in the upcoming Environment Canterbury elections. Politicians who aim to pollute freshwater should expect resistance.”