Olive Grove Lodge's Lyn Simpson (right) beside the
Waianakarua River with (left) Green Party Otago candidate
Oliver Briggs and Green co-leader Russel Norman on
Saturday. Photo by David Bruce.
The state of streams, rivers and lakes is an even bigger
issue for New Zealand than climate change, Green Party
co-leader Russel Norman believes.
During a visit to North Otago on Saturday, Mr Norman looked
at one river neighbours believe is suffering - the
Waianakarua - before a public meeting in Oamaru that night at
which he highlighted the parlous state of New Zealand's
waterways.
Lyn and Kim Simpson have owned the Olive Grove Lodge, a
former Scout camp on the north branch of the Waianakarua
River, for seven years.
They have turned it into a lodge, backpackers' accommodation
and camping ground.
They are worried about the state of the river and a proposal
from the Otago Regional Council for a minimum flow, and they
outlined their concerns to Mr Norman.
They view themselves as guardians of the river, but Mrs
Simpson said their fight to improve it had had a major impact
on them.
"We are trying so hard, but it is emotionally draining to see
the destruction," she said.
The couple have been involved in preliminary community
consultation carried out by the regional council to see if
agreement can be reached on a minimum flow for the river.
They would have preferred a minimum flow of 0.4cumecs, but
have accepted a general agreement for 0.3cumecs, even though
that would not ensure the river reached the sea.
However, they fear there is a push by farming interests for
0.15cumecs, which they say would ruin the river.
They are also upset by the effects of land-clearing, farming
and other activities along the river, which have lowered
water quality, they say.
A group from Kakanui raised similar concerns about the state
of the Kakanui River, and demands from farmers for water.
Mr Norman said the same thing was happening to rivers and
lakes all over New Zealand.
He said they were the "last wild places" and had to be looked
after.
He said all rivers and lakes should have a minimum standard
of being safe to swim in.
"No-one [in government] has yet had the guts to do that."
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