National Party’s spokesperson for agriculture Todd Muller has told a public meeting that he doesn’t think there should be conversions to dairying in the Mackenzie Basin.
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Controversial Mackenzie farm gets pivotal consent – David Williams, Newsroom
Pivot irrigators can be turned on at the country’s highest-profile dairy conversion. In the end it came down to grass, council inaction, and an extraordinary notion of fairness. A consent has been granted by an independent commissioner allowing water to flow through six pivot irrigators at Mackenzie Basin’s Simons Pass Station, south of Lake Pūkaki.
Weight of the past poisoning lakes of the present – Dr Jonathon West, Newsroom
We have been on a collision course with freshwater in this country for over a century, writes Victoria University of Wellington’s Dr Jonathan West. We are going to have to make some difficult and uncomfortable choices.
As democracy returns, a river of unease still flows – David Williams, Newsroom
The cairn was erected on a bitterly cold June day in 2010, a few months after the John Key-led Government sacked Environment Canterbury councillors, replacing them with appointed commissioners. Ostensibly the regional councillors were dismissed for mismanagement, but it was widely seen as a water grab – a chance for the Government to take control and promote irrigation schemes.
‘Nature is angry – and nature strikes back’ – Interview with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he is hopeful rather than desperate over global climate change because “governments always follow public opinion … sooner or later.”
A delicate balance – New Zealand Geographic
Demands are mounting on the Mackenzie’s river systems. South of Twizel, tussock vanishes and rugby-pitch green takes over, an incongruous contrast with the tawny mountains in the distance. A proposal to irrigate another 4800 hectares of the Pukaki outwash plain is currently the subject of an appeal in the High Court.
EDS looks forward to RM System review now underway – EDS media release
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) is pleased that the Government has announced membership of its Resource Management Review Panel. The Review was announced by Hon David Parker in June this year and is to develop a modern, fit-for-purpose resource management system.
Government to get tough on farming and councils by regulating for water – Colette Devlin, Stuff
Environment Minister David Parker: “Many of the places we swam as kids are not safe to swim any more. That’s not good enough.”
Water quality policy bound to please no one – Marc Daalder, Newsroom
Everyone, from local government to farmers to environmental groups, has a view on how to fix the country’s deteriorating freshwater quality.
New ECan council must find other ways to gain community input – Sir Kerry Burke, the Press
The current Auditor-General’s recent ruling removing the exemption is long overdue but very welcome. It can also be seen, together with the election of a new ECan council in October, as a first step towards the restoration of sound, principled, accountable regional governance. The zone committees were a mistake.