NZ's fresh water quality under pressure

NZ's fresh water quality under pressure
Tawhai Falls, Tongariro National Park. (Image: Getty)
Greg Hurrell
New Zealand’s fresh waterways are under pressure and it remains unknown how sustainable our water use is, according to a new report.“Our Freshwater 2023” report was released on April 12 by Stats NZ and the Ministry for the Environment. It's the third on the subject after earlier reports released in 2017 and 2020 under the Environmental Reporting Act.The report looked at 24 environmental indicators to assess the health of fresh waterways. These included lake water quality, livestock numbers, nitrogen and phosphorus levels,...

More Environment

Director ‘vindicated’ after Drylandcarbon High Court ruling
Law & Regulation

Director ‘vindicated’ after Drylandcarbon High Court ruling

Anthony Beverley said he felt “fantastic satisfaction” after reading the judgment.

Gregor Thompson 15 Oct 2025
'Meth' ministry moves: staffing data sought for four-way merger
Infrastructure

'Meth' ministry moves: staffing data sought for four-way merger

Work is progressing on a four-ministry merger with the pejorative nickname ‘Meth’.

Dileepa Fonseka 14 Oct 2025
New online carbon tool could slash NZ building emissions
Property

New online carbon tool could slash NZ building emissions

Building designers, developers and owners are demanding low-carbon building products.

Greg Hurrell 25 Sep 2025
Seabed miner wants to list on the NZX
Primary Sector

Seabed miner wants to list on the NZX

The mining project has been one of the most hotly contested in NZ.

Ian Llewellyn 23 Sep 2025