Source: Greenpeace
Greenpeace Aotearoa is welcoming the announcement from the Green Party that, if elected, they will phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, reduce the size of the dairy herd and lower the legal limit for nitrate contamination.
However, Greenpeace Freshwater Campaigner Will Appelbe warns that this is not the end of the road for water protections.
“We welcome the announcement from the Greens that they will implement common-sense bottom lines for freshwater management and tackle the source of the pollution – the intensive dairy industry. But more needs to be done,” says Appelbe.
“Places like Canterbury and Southland are experiencing a nitrate crisis. Rural drinking water is being poisoned by fertiliser runoff and cow urine. And we need action now.
“The dairy boom in those regions occurred over a relatively short space of time. We know we can change land use practices quickly, which those communities dealing with nitrate contamination desperately need.”
Greenpeace is also welcoming commitments to protect more of the ocean surrounding Aotearoa, including phasing out destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling on seamounts.
Oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper says: “Protecting vulnerable habitats from bottom trawling is urgent,so it’s good to see it recognised in the Greens’ policy. We would like to see a timeline for this as it’s imperative bottom trawling is banned on seamounts by the end of 2027. Every year of delay is just furthering ocean depletion.”
Greenpeace is calling on the Labour Party to adopt the policies.
Appelbe says, “It’s time for Hipkins to copy the Greens’ homework, and take action to stop dairy pollution. There is no time to lose, and peoples’ lives depend on it.”
Nitrate contamination in drinking water has been linked to several health risks, including bowel cancer and preterm birth. A 2022 study revealed that up to 100 cases of bowel cancer and 40 deaths every year could be caused by exposure to nitrate contamination in drinking water.
Hooper says, “New Zealand has fallen far behind other parts of the world when it comes to looking after the diverse ocean that surrounds us. We are hopeful that strong policy to protect it from destructive fishing techniques will give the ocean we all love a real shot at recovery. “