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Sustainable Water Programme of Action
Plentiful, clean water is part of New Zealand’s heritage. Our rivers, lakes, wetlands and other freshwater resources are valuable for many reasons. We depend on them for drinking water, for the environment, for irrigation, for energy, for cultural values, for recreation and for tourism.
Intensifying land use, climate change, and greater demand for fresh water mean we cannot take these natural assets for granted.
In response to some of the challenges facing fresh water in New Zealand, the government established the Sustainable Water Programme of Action in 2003 with a set of outcomes.
Three new instruments in freshwater management
The key focus of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action is on the development of three new instruments for freshwater management:
- A National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
- A National Environmental Standard for Measurement of Water Takes
- A National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels
Work is also underway which includes enhanced Maori participation in fresh water management.
How fresh water is managed in New Zealand
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is the key piece of legislation governing the management of freshwater resources.
Under the RMA, regional and unitary councils are responsible for making decisions on the allocation and use of water within their boundaries. This includes decisions on resource consents for people wanting to use fresh water or discharge into it.
Councils are guided in their decisions by regional policy statements and regional plans. These lay out environmental objectives, policies, rules and processes, and sometimes set quality standards or specify how much water can be taken from particular water bodies.
The RMA obliges councils to consult Māori and the wider community on regional policy statements and regional plans.
Councils also determine social, economic, environmental and cultural outcomes for water quality through the “long-term council community plans” that they are required to develop under the Local Government Act 2002.
Further information
For further information related to the Sustainable Water Programme of Action, please see the links and suggestions below:
- Background information
- Questions and answers
- Managing effects of land use on water quality
- Leadership and partnership
- Other national priorities and related initiatives
- Tools to assist regional councils
- Outcomes for freshwater management in New Zealand
- Ministers speech ”Protecting water everyone’s responsibility” [26 February 2008]
- Media release - Charting dynamic new course to manage our water [10 April 2006]
- Freshwater for the Future information sheet [April 2006]
- Freshwater for the Future: A supporting document [April 2006]
- Cabinet paper: Sustainable Water Programme of Action – Implementation Package
- Cabinet paper POL (06) 321: Sustainable Water Programme of Action: Progress Report
If you have any questions about the Water Programme, you can email: waterprogramme@mfe.govt.nz.
For information on other initiatives to do with fresh water, visit the freshwater webpages.
