June 26, 2018
Water Forum advice weighed
The Government says it will consider the recommendation by the Land and Water Forum to set up a Land and Water Commission to provide the coordination, resourcing and capability needed to make necessary changes to the country’s water management regime.
The forum, which brought together stakeholders including farmers, electricity generators, environmental and recreational groups and iwi, has issued its fifth and final report before winding up.
Under the previous Government some forum members had expressed frustration their recommendations were ignored or watered down.
Environment Minister David Parker, who along with Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor set the forum a series of questions, says the Government will act immediately on some recommendations including prioritising action in the most at-risk catchments.
The Environment and Primary Industries Ministries will work with regional councils to identify catchments and work closely with the primary sector, Māori and other interested groups on the action plan.
The forum was unable to reach agreement on the allocation of nutrient discharge rights in polluted catchments.
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