Outcome 1 - Building and Enhancing Partnerships
Action 1.1: Establish a leadership group
15. Through the Sustainable Water Programme of Action, Government will establish a leadership group reporting to the Ministers for the Environment and of Agriculture to enhance and build on existing partnerships with local government, industry, Māori, science agencies and providers, and rural and urban communities. This group will assist in progressing the implementation package of actions outlined in this paper by advising on the priority that should be accorded to various water management issues and methods to address them.
Action 1.2: Build partnerships with local government
16. Through the Sustainable Water Programme of Action, Government seeks to build on the effective and innovative ways in which local government already addresses water management issues. A collaborative approach by central and local government is essential for developing sound national policy, standards and best practice programmes. Central government will further develop its existing close partnerships with councils by:
- using the regular central/local government political forums
- using the existing Chief Executives' Environment Forum meetings
- involving local government staff on working parties and/or reference groups
- building on existing joint initiatives. Current initiatives include support for councils developing second generation plans, training programmes for councillors on decision making, and practitioner training on specific issues
- developing guidance material to supplement any national policy statement, national environmental standard or legislative change
- directing science funding to support the development and implementation of any national policy statement and/or national environmental standard
- providing guidance and direction to local government on improving Māori capacity, capability and opportunity to contribute to water management decisions.
Action 1.3: Build partnerships with industry sectors
17. Strong partnerships between central/local government and industry - particularly in the energy, agriculture and tourism sectors - are critical to successfully managing the impacts of land use on water quality, and addressing the challenges presented by the growing demand for water.
18. Many resource users and industries already understand the importance of demonstrating efficiency and good environmental management. As changes to the freshwater management regime begin to be implemented, industry will be expected to take a leading role, with the active support of government departments and councils. In many cases, especially in rural communities, successful change will depend on partnerships between the agricultural sector and community interests, which have a strong common interests.
19. Central government will seek to strengthen partnerships with industry by:
- building on initiatives such as the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord and the proposed Dairy Industry Strategy for Sustainable Environmental Management
- encouraging industry participation in working groups and/or reference groups
- establishing initiatives akin to the New Zealand Packaging Accord
- setting targets for land management activities to address the undesirable effects of land use on water quality (refer paragraph 32).
Action 1.4: Build partnerships with Māori
20. The 2005 freshwater consultation emphasised the strong desire of Māori to play a more active role in local decision making. The view that the Treaty relationship should be more explicit in the area of water management was expressed, as was the belief that kaitiaki knowledge could make a significant and positive contribution to the quality of freshwater decision making.
21. Government will seek to strengthen, in partnership with local government, the ability of Māori to use existing resource management tools. Potential ways of doing this include:
- enhancing participation of Māori in planning and policy development - for example, assisting councils to incorporate Māori values into regional planning and policy making
- encouraging Māori into existing training programmes on decision making
- increasing the use and appointment of Māori Commissioners for specific hearings
- promoting Māori uptake of joint management, transfer and devolution options under the Resource Management Act.
Action 1.5: Build partnerships with rural and urban communities
22. Communities are already heavily involved in many aspects of freshwater management, often strongly supported by local government. Examples include river, wetland, riparian and estuarine care groups; ecological restoration initiatives; recreation (including fishing); and public awareness activities. Ongoing active involvement by communities, environmental groups and the voluntary sector will be essential for the success of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action.
23. Local government and community organisations have various 'water awareness' initiatives underway or in preparation. Often these initiatives could be enhanced by central government support and coordination so that they complement other parts of the Programme, and make best use of community and stakeholder communication networks.
24. Government is especially keen to see communities involved in improving the environmental quality of water. Partnerships with environmental groups, the voluntary sector and local government will be strengthened to develop targeted awareness-raising activities. Over the last year, the Ministry for the Environment has been working with regional councils to develop a water awareness initiative. The proposed action would complement and enhance that initiative.
Action 1.6: Build partnerships with science agencies and providers
25. Partnerships between central government, local government and science agencies/ providers can help identify information gaps and ensure freshwater science and research funding is aligned with the needs of end users. Feedback from public consultation indicated that freshwater science and research programmes could be better coordinated, and there was some dissatisfaction with delivery and information transfer. Actions will aim to ensure freshwater science and research funding is aligned with the needs of end users, particularly local government, and that the available science is used effectively.
26. Management action to improve water quality in rural areas involves an interaction of tools and knowledge developed by science with individual business decisions that balance production, environmental and financial considerations. Technically challenging diffuse source discharges predominate. There is currently a substantial work programme across Crown Research Institutes, universities, industry and sector organisations, agribusiness and individuals that specifically targets improving water quality. This work programme typically involves a strong collaboration and partnership approach including many projects co-funded between industry and Government. A strategic and coordinated approach would enhance this collective work programme.
27. This action could include:
- promoting and extending the national resource information databases currently in development and ensuring they are coordinated for ease of access
- ensuring science supports the development and implementation of other initiatives under the Sustainable Water Programme of Action, such as a possible national environmental standard on environmental flows
- extending current initiatives such as Envirolink [The Envirolink scheme (commenced in December 2005 as a two-year trial) funds research organisations to assist regional councils with adapting management tools to local needs, and translating environmental science knowledge into practical advice.] to provide science funding for poorly resourced regional councils
- developing networks to enable access to/sharing of information from the wide range of research sources, at minimum cost to councils and other stakeholders
- promoting the development of centres of excellence which would coordinate and plan for science and information priorities.
