Water Discussions Cost $14 Million And Counting

After successive Governments have spent $14 million trying to find policy solutions to New Zealand’s freshwater crisis, it’s time to stop procrastinating and adopt the resulting National Policy Statement without delay, the Green Party said today.

“With the release of the Land and Water Forum’s report imminent, the policy development phase is drawing to a close. Now it’s time for action,” Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said.

The Green Party today released answers to written questions showing the total cost to taxpayers of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action, the New Start for Freshwater programme, the Land and Water Forum, and the development of the NPS was almost $14 million, excluding GST.

“Our rivers and lakes are in crisis. Increasingly, our kids can’t exercise their birthright to swim, fish and play in our rivers and lakes, because they’re too polluted,” Dr Norman said.

“Two-thirds of our native freshwater fish species are endangered, something especially worth noting during Conservation Week.

“It’s time to adopt the NPS and start cleaning up our waterways. The longer we put it off, the more it will cost New Zealanders and the native species that live in our rivers and lakes.

Dr Norman said the time had come to shift the focus away from bureaucracy and onto solutions.

“While a lot of the $14 million spent on water policy development under both National and Labour was wasted, at least we now have a worthy NPS on freshwater management.

“It doesn't go far enough, but it would be a hell of a good start. The NPS has gone through all the required steps and is ready to be implemented. All it needs is for Environment Minister Nick Smith to sign it.

“Nick Smith has been using the Land and Water Forum as an excuse not to take action and adopt the NPS, but with the Land and Water Forum due to report next week, it’s time for the Minister to decide.

“Will he seize the opportunity to take the lead and improve freshwater management in New Zealand? Or will he water down the NPS and send it back to the drawing board, with yet more taxpayer money being spent on bureaucracy instead of cleaning up our rivers?”

Dr Norman said he was eagerly awaiting the report of the Land and Water Forum next week and hoped it would recommend substantial improvements in the way we manage water and the adoption of the NPS.

References:

Estimated total cost of the Land and Water Forum process: $1.3m

Estimated total cost of developing the NPS: $730,000

Estimated total cost of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action: $9m

Estimated total cost of the New Start for Freshwater programme: $2.9m

Total: $13.93m

For more detail see answers to written questions 29000, 29002, 29005, and 29007: http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/

ENDS

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