The Green Party has launched a campaign and petition to ensure New Zealand's rivers are safe for swimming now and in the future.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says they've chosen 10 rivers from around the country to visit in order to highlight what needs to be done to make them clean enough to swim in again.
The Tarawera is one of 10 rivers being targeted as part of a new Green Party campaign calling for the country's rivers to be cleaned up. Photo: Google Maps
The 10 rivers chosen by the Greens includes the Tarawera River in the Bay of Plenty, along with the Waikato, Wairua, Kaipātiki/Lucas Creek, Tukituki, Waitara, Ruamāhanga, Manawatū, Waikirikiri/Selwyn and Mataura rivers.
'New Zealanders want rivers that are safe to swim in that they and future generations can enjoy. But the Government has given up on clean rivers,” says Metiria.
'Rivers can be clean enough to swim in, but only if the Government lifts its ‘wadable' standards and demands they be swimmable instead.”
Metiria says New Zealand needs a Government to 'back our rivers, and to stop defending polluters”, adding that under National nearly two thirds of the country's rivers were now unsafe for swimming.
She believes this new petition is an opportunity for Kiwis to demand rivers that are clean enough to swim in.
'John Key says that most of our water just runs out to sea, when in fact it sustains communities who swim in and gather kai from rivers, as well as native species and ecosystems.
'Government subsidies for damaging irrigation projects – like the Ruataniwha dam that will impact the Tukituki River – shows the Government's refusal to protect water quality.”
Metiria says lots of work to clean up the country's rivers is currently being carried out by tangata whenua, communities, industries and farmers - but they can't do it on their own.
'We need strong regulation that requires our rivers be safe for swimming, which the Green Party is committed to,” she says.
For more information about the Green Party's campaign and petition visit: rivers.greens.org.nz
3 comments
Hmmmm
Posted on 07-06-2016 08:35 | By How about this view!
The "Watermelons" just love to wave around a big stick with which to beat people into submission and then in the same breath they make statements such as "lots of work to clean up the country's rivers is currently being carried out by tangata whenua, communities, industries and farmers"! So who is left to be punished by legislation? Maybe they want all of these rivers fenced off so that nobody can use them, unless they are the landowners? Not sure that fencing will prevent run-off or silting though....
About time
Posted on 07-06-2016 10:37 | By bushman
The Tarawera River is crystal clear until it gets to the mills nothing to do with the farmers this one been like it for over thirty years BLOODY DISGRACEFUL for once I behind the GREENS !!
most river pollution is caused by sewage
Posted on 09-06-2016 23:44 | By marshamaxw
The real reason is not the dairy, it is inadequate sewage systems around the country in major towns and cities which do not have one. The Green Party is being paid by the europeans to destroy the dairy industry to protect their own subsidised ones. Any politicians who proposes to make every city or town have adequate sewage systems would be committing political suicide because ratepayers will punish them. It is highly unpopular yet we don't care about the real reason for the river pollution. Dairy farmers are convenient scapegoats.
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