Skip to main content.

Backgrounder on ‘New Start for Fresh Water’ Cabinet paper

On 8 June 2009, the Government announced its new strategy New Start for Fresh Water. It outlines the Government’s new direction for water management in New Zealand and sets out some of the choices we face and the implications of those choices. A subsequent paper will outline a programme of work to run until 2011 and beyond.

The Government’s strategy broadly covers:

What issues need to be addressed?

  • Sound water management is essential to provide for New Zealand’s economic development and growth, and to maintain social and cultural values.
  • In some parts of New Zealand, water resource limits are being approached, which is seen in deteriorating water quality, water demand outstripping supply, and constrained economic opportunities.
  • The right balance needs to be found between the different interests and values in water, as not all values and expectations can be met in all places at all times.
  • Some other contributing issues that need to be addressed are the interests of Māori in New Zealand’s fresh water
  • Many New Zealanders don’t understand the limits of water resources – information about how much water we use is poor, and there is limited institutional capacity and expertise needed for sound water management.

What is the direction for water management that the Government wants to set?

  • Water management is part of Phase Two of the Government’s Resource Management reforms, which have as their main objective the achievement of least cost delivery of good environmental outcomes.
  • The Government also aims to:
  • ensure that water contributes to New Zealand’s economic growth and environmental integrity
    • provide stronger central government direction and leadership
    • set some resource limits to shape the actions taken on managing water quality and allocation
    • develop an allocation regime that provides for ecological and public purposes (including Treaty considerations), and then maximises the return from the remaining water available for consumptive use
    • identify the contribution water infrastructure (including storage) could make to improve water use, and address the barriers to achieving this
    • address some of the scientific, technical, information and capability gaps that hold back improved management
    • establish supplementary measures to address the impacts of land use intensification on water quality, and manage urban and rural demand
    • maintain Treaty-based engagement with Māori on water management options.

How will issues be tackled?

  • A detailed work programme is still being developed, but it is likely to involve a wide range of tools and possibly some economic instruments.
  • Further work will be done on:
    • water quality, including managing the impacts of land use intensification
    • water quantity, particularly allocation and demand management
    • water infrastructure and storage.
  • Much existing work on water management tools will continue (such as the proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, some proposed national environmental standards).
  • Much work also carries on outside central government: management of natural resources by local government, industry initiatives, and community action (e.g the Primary Sector Water Partnership).

How will the Government engage others on water management?

  • A stakeholder-led collaborative process under the Land and Water Forum (previously known as the Sustainable Land Use Forum) will be used to develop a shared understanding of the issues and big picture outcomes wanted for New Zealand, and options for achieving those outcomes.
  • The Government will continue to work alongside Māori in the development of freshwater policy.
  • Ongoing discussions will continue between the Crown and iwi leaders, with officials and Māori advisers also continuing to work on areas of common interest.

How long is the work expected to take?

  • The Land and Water Forum process will run over the next year or so. The Government will seek public comment before taking any policy decisions.
  • Officials will work on related policy options during the next year.

 

Last updated: 24 September 2009