Declining lake water quality demonstrates public policy failure

A new NIWA report indicating declining water quality in some lakes confirms what has been known for years, namely that with intensification of land use, water quality will deteriorate in the absence of any useful policies, standards and rules, says Murray Gibb, chief executive of Water New Zealand.

"Because we're water rich we we've been able to take the resource for granted for too long," he said.

"This situation wasn't helped by abandonment in the late 1980s of the central policy direction provided by the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority, and underpinned by aggregated science and technical support.

"Devolution of responsibility for water quality to resource constrained Regional Councils under the Resource Management Act with no central direction, has been unsuccessful," he said.

"If there is one real culprit in our failure to address water quality, it has been a lack of central leadership and direction at a time when we have intensified land use both in rural and built environments.

"While urban dwellers are quick to point the bone at the pastoral farming practices that have mainly contributed to declining water quality, they need reminding that the dirtiest waterways in New Zealand lie in their own back yards," he added.

" Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces pollute our urban streams with heavy metals and organic chemicals. Adding to this to are sometimes substandard sewerage systems and treatment facility discharges.

"The fact is that the water policy history of every government since the late 1980s has been poor.

"Arguably the worst policy failure was the Sustainable Water Programme of Action under the previous administration that came up with much consultation and nothing fit for purpose.

"The one bright light on the horizon from a water public policy perspective for many years has been the Cabinet initiated, and industry led, Land and Water Forum. Its report and recommendations make it very clear that there are no simple or quick solutions to declining water quality.

"Rather a suite of policies are required. Water New Zealand supports the Land and Water Forum's recommendations. We think that the most important of these are improved governance arrangements, with a central home for public policy.

"Continuing with 67 local, 11 regional, and at least nine centrally-based agencies providing governance for water serving a population of 4.3 million people, with no overall policy framework, is simply not going to cut the mustard," he said.

"On the positive side, Water New Zealand is certain that this country can continue the development of our abundant water resource and improve environmental outcomes at the same time. We already have the knowledge to do so."

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