Minister Nathan Guy must do better on water than he did on snapper

Nathan Guy must do a better job on his consultation document on water than he did with his last consultation on snapper says independent MP Brendan Horan.

“New Zealand needs to move toward a robust and strong National Water Standard so that accumulating problems in natural waterways can be properly addressed. The standard must cover discharges into rivers and streams.

“At present there are only intermittent and sporadic clean-up efforts and that is not good enough. I want to see the present national policy statement strengthened. Maori - indeed many New Zealanders who value the wairua - want to be able to work with local and regional Councils to fix the problems that have developed over many years,” said Brendan Horan.

Wairua is the acceptance that the blood and bones of our ancestors run through our streams rivers and lakes. It is the soul of New Zealand.

“Every Council is concerned with, or worse is being overwhelmed by, the costs of treating effluent or waste water. Councils consistently breach resource consents as they struggle to find ways to manage waste water-related issues or the funding required to fully resolve them.

“We need a good National Water Standard that will raise the health of waterways in an affordable way because water is vital to New Zealanders,” said Brendan Horan.

He was commenting on the release of another Government consultation document today.

“I intend to see what the public has to say about water quality and water standards. I intend to hold the Government accountable for what it is told by the public and what action it takes.

“I will particularly be watching because Nathan Guy’s ‘consultation’ on slashing the snapper daily bag consisted on sending out Ministry officials to tell people what he was going to do. His supporting science on snapper was pure bunkum,” said Brendan Horan.

ENDS

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