The Otago Regional Council says it has no issue with the owner of cattle which were photographed wading through the Matukituki River, which runs into Lake Wanaka.
The photographs were supplied to Radio New Zealand by trampers following a similar instance where cattle belonging to businessman Hugh Fletcher and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias were photographed in a Canterbury lake.
Tramper Hayley Bryan told RNZ yesterday she was horrified to see the cattle defecating in the Matukituki, near the Mt Aspiring National Park.
However, in a statement, ORC director of environmental monitoring and operations Scott MacLean said it had not received any complaints and the photographs did not appear to be a breach of its water plan regulations.
The water plan was an ‘‘effects-based plan'' which, he said, required farmers to manage the level of contaminants coming off their property within set limits, and adapt farming practises accordingly.
‘‘These limits take effect in 2020. If we see elevated levels of contaminants like nitrogen or E.coli in waterways, we will be able to investigate and take any appropriate enforcement action.''
Randall Aspinall, the owner of Mt Aspiring Station, in the Matukituki Valley, said the cattle were his, and he acknowledged the photos, taken in isolation, did not present a good view of high country farming.
The station was working with the regional council to improve its environmental footprint.
‘‘Some areas where those cows are, it's virtually impossible to fence due to cost and the environment they are in.''
Federated Farmers Otago provincial president Phill Hunt, of Wanaka, said cattle using the Matukituki River was ‘‘legitimate''.
Mr Hunt said there was a difference between cattle in extensively-farmed high country situations and cattle in intensive situations, such as dairy farms.
He pointed to the regional council's ‘‘stock access to waterways'' publication.
It states: ‘‘Where damage is not occurring, stock access to waterways is permitted.
‘‘This is most likely to be applicable in extensive stock grazing situations in Otago's hill and high country.''
Mr Hunt said cows walking through waterways in the Matukituki Valley had been going on for more than 100 years and was ‘‘a legitimate farming operation''.
‘‘In Otago we run an effects-based regime and because there is no ill effect from that practice then it is definitely legitimate.''
Mr Hunt said other regions in the country had different ideas.
Annette Grieve, the Department of Conservation's acting operations manager (Central Otago District) said the river had marginal strips on both banks managed by Doc.
‘‘Landowners must comply with the rules under the district and regional plans including rules to protect waterways, wetlands and riparian zones from the adverse effects of stock.''
