Latest Report from Land and Water Forum Welcomed

Latest Report from Land and Water Forum Welcomed as a Pathway Forward

The latest report from the Land and Water Forum on collaborating on policy making and setting water quality limits has been welcomed by DairyNZ as a workable and forward-looking approach to how we look after our lakes and rivers.

The Land and Water Forum (LWF) is an independent body representing a broad range of stakeholders including the dairy industry, which has been supported by the government in its objective of finding a consensus view on how to improve the management of freshwater resources.

DairyNZ CEO Tim Mackle says the recommendations from LWF, where it suggests a catchment by catchment approach to finalising water quality objectives and limits, is consistent with the views of DairyNZ.

“While national guidance is an important element in land and water management in New Zealand, addressing the environmental, economic, cultural and social challenges and opportunities of each waterway needs to be done on a catchment basis. The suggestion by LWF that stakeholders with values and interests in a catchment, be they farmers, iwi, recreationists or urban authorities should collaborate to develop water quality objectives and limits is totally the right thing to do,” he says.

Dr Mackle says the dairy industry understands that New Zealanders naturally have expectations around water quality, because of the value they place on waterways, and it is essential that communities can work together to set objectives and limits and agree collaboratively on how to achieve them.

“Equally New Zealanders also understand the need to use our natural resources wisely for the benefit of the country’s economic growth. It is an on-going challenge for the Land and Water Forum to balance the need to create economic prosperity with the aspirations around water quality,” says Dr Mackle.

ENDS

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