Q&As for Implementing the New Start for Fresh Water: Proposed Official’s Work Programme
Q. What does the Cabinet Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee paper on implementing the New Start for Fresh Water programme set out?
On 8 June 2009, the Government announced its new strategy New Start for Fresh Water, outlining the Government’s new direction for freshwater management in New Zealand.
The strategy comprises a three-pronged approach running in parallel:
- a stakeholder-led collaborative process run by the Land and Water Forum that will develop shared outcomes, goals and long-term strategies for freshwater;
- ongoing engagement between Ministers and Iwi Leaders in respect to the interests of iwi with regard to the management of freshwater; and
- scoping of policy options and development of tools for better freshwater management.
The “Implementing the New Start for Fresh Water: Proposed Official’s Work Programme” paper released in September 2009 sets out the work officials will be conducting in parallel with the Land and Water Forum process and engagement with Iwi Leaders. The Programme sets out 10 priority projects that will be worked on over the next two years and beyond. The priority projects have been chosen as they are needed either to ensure the Government can respond to the Forum’s proposals and find solutions for problems with the current freshwater management system.
Q. Why do we need to change the current freshwater management system?
The problem is we are reaching or exceeding limits to the amount of water that can be taken and, at the same time, reducing the ability of water to safely absorb pollution. Water is a finite resource, and we will face economic, environmental, social, and cultural costs unless the problems facing water quality, quantity and resulting environmental impacts are addressed.
Water quality and quantity limits that reflect ecological bottom lines and wider community values will need to be set and enforced. Information on the amount of water we use, and the impact of that use, will need to improve. We also need to find better ways to maximise the value we get from sustainably using water.
Q. What are the fresh water issues that need to be addressed as part of the New Start for Fresh Water Programme?
Specific fresh water issues that need to be addressed include:
- deteriorating water quality
- the impact on fresh water of non-point source discharges, particularly those arising from land use intensification
- getting better value from water, including through better allocation and use of storage and other water infrastructure
- management, institutional and capability limitations, including gaining and using information and technical and scientific expertise
- unresolved rights and the interests of iwi
- New Zealander’s lack of understand surrounding the complexity of water management issues, and the need for change.
Q. What are the ten priority projects?
Priority projects fall into the areas of allocation, quality, infrastructure, science and monitoring and effective decision-making.
- Environmental flows and water measuring (Allocation)
- Water quality limits (Quality)
- National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (Allocation and quality)
- Allocating water to maximise value (Allocation and quality)
- Over-allocation baseline and possible interim interventions (Allocation and quality)
- Supporting measures (Allocation and quality)
- Rural water infrastructure (Infrastructure)
- Dependable monitoring and reporting (Science and monitoring)
- Aligning investment and improving uptake of water research (Science and monitoring)
- Best practice water governance (Effective decision-making)
Q. What are the expected deliverables for these 10 priority projects?
The proposed officials’ work programme is expected to deliver options for:
- technical amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991 in the areas of water allocation and quality to improve current water management processes
- national-level regulatory instruments and other means of delivering greater central government direction and consistency
- guidance, support, development of incentives and capability-building to help local government and other water users or managers, including model consents, economic instruments and regional regulatory provisions
- encouragement of voluntary measures, continued better targeted support for primary sector partnerships
- better public information.
Q. How will the Government engage with Iwi in their work on fresh water management?
Iwi have a unique and special interest in fresh water, having a traditional, cultural and spiritual relationship with freshwater, as well as economic interests. Water is a taonga and iwi have interests and responsibilities pursuant to their role as kaitiaki.
The Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) forms the underlying foundation of the Crown-Iwi relationship with regard to freshwater resources.
The Government will be engaging with the Iwi Leaders Group (a group of leaders of iwi which have interests in large catchment areas) and iwi advisors in its work to develop policy options for fresh water management. Whilst the Iwi Leaders Group have undertaken their own reporting to other iwi, they have been clear that they do not represent all iwi and have informed government that wider engagement with iwi is necessary in the ongoing development of freshwater policy. The purpose of engaging with the Iwi Leaders Group and their advisers is to ensure that iwi rights and interests are considered throughout the development of the priority projects and in any new freshwater management policies developed.
More comprehensive engagement with iwi will take place once more detailed policies have been developed and before any final decisions are made. The Iwi Leaders Group and their advisers will be involved in developing a process for that consultation.
Q. What is the Land and Water Forum?
The Land and Water Forum (previously known as the Sustainable Land Use Forum) is a non-government group established in 2008, comprising a range of industry groups, environmental and recreational entities, iwi groups and other organisations with an interest in sustainable land and water management.
Q. Why has the Land and Water Forum been asked to conduct this process?
One of the most difficult issues that needs to be overcome if progress is to be made in the area of fresh water management is the need to reconcile diverse and competing values and interests in water.
This is why the Government has asked the Land and Water Forum to conduct a collaborative governance project into fresh water management. Its composition, which has been expanded to include a comprehensive range of stakeholders, including urban, industrial and rural interests in water offers a real opportunity to resolve these value conflicts through the engagement and contribution of all these different parties.
Under the proposed collaborative process, recommendations on shared outcomes, goals and strategies for fresh water management will inform the shape of a package of policy options for fresh water management that the Government will seek public feedback on in late 2010.
Q. How will the Land and Water Forum operate?
The Land and Water Forum have established their own processes for addressing the issues and seeking consensus on a way forward. The forum is a stand alone process, conducted in parallel to, but at arms length from the Government’s ongoing water policy and iwi engagement work.
Government representation at forum meetings will be provided through the involvement of two senior officials, one from MfE and one from MAF, as representatives of the joint Ministry leads of the water programme. These officials will arrange for participation of other officials as necessary, for example, to assist with access to the science system.
Q. What is the Land and Water Forum expected to do?
The Land and Water Forum will:
- Conduct a stakeholder-led collaborative governance process to recommend reform of New Zealand’s fresh water management
- Identify shared outcomes and goals for fresh water using a consensus process
- Identify options to achieve outcomes and goals
- Produce a written report which recommends shared outcomes, goals and long-term strategies for freshwater in New Zealand.
The Land and Water Forum must provide their report to the Ministers of Environment and of Agriculture by July 31 2010.
Q. How do interested groups/people get involved in the Land and Water Forum process?
Those who are interested in being part of the Forum or finding out more about its work can email the Forum directly: info@landandwater.org.nz.
Q. What is the process from here?
The following diagram shows the process and timetable for the New Start for Fresh Water Programme:
Last updated: 24 September 2009
