Debate is again flowing in the wake of the release this week of a water quality report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright.
In the report, ''Water quality in New Zealand: Land use and nutrient pollution'', Dr Wright paints a bleak picture for the future of our freshwater quality - particularly in Canterbury and Southland.
The report has been preceded by many similar ones, by her and others. A Ministry for the Environment report a year ago showed 52% of monitored recreational sites on New Zealand rivers were so polluted they were unsafe for swimming, and Southland was among the worst regions for river quality. But the new report's message may be the push needed to fast-track action and ensure ongoing research, further policy development and implementation in order to make a real, immediate and lasting difference.
In the report, Dr Wright explains how New Zealand's changing land use reflects market realities, and in that respect is nothing new. But in the past 20 years, the ''large-scale and rapid land-use change'' (particularly from sheep and beef farming to dairying) has caused deterioration of New Zealand waterways through ''highly soluble'' excess nitrogen - run-off from cow urine and fertiliser.
She does not lay the blame solely on dairying or this generation. Another significant problem is accumulated phosphorus in waterways, the result of erosion after decades of forest clearance for sheep farming.
The two nutrients - while desirable on land - lower water quality by aiding excessive growth of weeds, slime and algae, which has an impact on insects, fish and waterbirds.
The report forecasts that, by 2020, dairy farms will cover over 650,000ha more land than in 1996, at the start of the dairy boom, and 70% of the increase will be in Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
Our regions rely heavily on farming - which increasingly means dairying. And as a country, dairy is our No 1 export earner, and is set to continue growing, with demand from current markets increasing and others opening up. Our products have been (largely) a success story overseas and it is understandable farmers - who must weather huge losses when times are bad - should want to capitalise on opportunities in good times. Dr Wright acknowledges the importance of the sector, saying she ''actively seeks out `win-wins' for the economy and the environment'' but in this case, New Zealand faces a classic ''economy versus environment dilemma''.
Farmers are making attempts to address the negative impacts of their operations and know their future livelihoods rely on looking after the land. But many mitigation efforts, such as riparian planting, are not effective at controlling nitrogen run-off, particularly in some catchment areas and soil types, and a rethink is needed - and our scientists and researchers play a vital part in that, alongside policymakers and farming industry heavweights.
There is an increasing goodwill and acknowledgement that all parties need to work together to address issues. Federated Farmers is welcoming the report, with environment spokesman Ian Mackenzie saying the effects on water are ''not a future we'd like to be a part of'', significant research is being put into finding solutions and progress is being made. Likewise, Fonterra co-operative affairs group director Todd Muller acknowledges the dairy giant's role in fixing the problem, saying ''Fonterra and our farmers have undertaken a significant amount of work to protect waterways, but we recognise there is more to do''.
There have been policies implemented at local and central government levels and more work is under way. But it is results that matter, which is why the report is so important.
As an independent Officer of Parliament, Dr Wright's job is to hold the Government to account for its environmental policies and actions. Modelling in the report shows there is much to be done. Dr Wright's word should be heeded, otherwise New Zealand's rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and aquifers will continue to be degraded, our lifestyle diminished, and without the clean, green image on which we rely to sell ourselves to the world, the economic value of our goods will drop. The picture she paints is clear: the balance must swing back in the environment's favour if we are to continue using it to satisfy all our demands.
