Protect North's water quality before adding more dairy: Greens

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty says there should be no increase in Northland dairying until waterways are better protected. Photo / File

A newly released Northland Regional Growth Study suggests the region could grow fatter on milk, but Green Party spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty says dairying development should be ring-fenced until tougher strategies are in place to protect water quality.

The Growth Study was released by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy in Kerikeri.

The study states Northland's economy is underperforming - having 3.6 per cent of the population, but contributing 2.9 per cent of employment and 2.6 per cent of gross domestic product. It also states the region's natural assets, cultural heritage and youthful population present significant opportunities for growth in tourism, forestry, dairy, aquaculture and horticulture.

Ms Delahunty said alarm bells should be ringing over the suggestion dairying be increased. Binding water protection measures need to be put in place first, she said.

"Twenty per cent of existing dairy farms are non-compliant with what is already in place."

The requirements should go further than a voluntary accord between Fonterra, farmers and local authorities, have tougher compliance requirements to keep stock out of riparian areas and ensure better effluent/run-off management, she said.

Last week she accompanied Millan Ruka, of Environment River Patrol Aotearoa, on a visit to the waterways of Hikurangi Swamp, Mangakahia and Poroti.

"There are great farmers out there doing great work and I was inspired by the efforts of local hapu and Northpower to get elvers and eel past the Wairua Power Station. That's a great co-operative model but, overall, we need much more co-operation, and enforceable requirements.

"We have to congratulate iwi and hapu and individuals like Mr Ruka for their commitment to the issue of water quality."

The Tai Tokerau iwi economic growth strategy for the Maori economy, released alongside the regional study, has been welcomed by Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell who said it represents a commitment of iwi to drive their economic growth.