Govt puts $9.3m into fresh water research

The Government is going to invest $9.3 million over the next six years in fresh water research, ministers said today.

Environment Minister Nick Smith and Science Minister Wayne Mapp said that along with climate change, improving fresh water management was one of the Government's top environmental priorities.

"Our abundant fresh water resources are a real competitive advantage for our primary and tourism industries but we need to ensure we balance the needs of a growing economy with the great Kiwi lifestyle of swimming, boating and fishing," they said.

The money is going into two research projects.

One will pioneer techniques for understanding groundwater, such as satellite remote sensing and the use of seismic signals from earthquakes.

In the other, researchers will develop a new framework to enable communities to work together to manage their water resources within agreed limits.

- NZPA