Agriculture seen as No 2 environmental problem

Agriculture-related issues are seen as the second-biggest environmental problem for New Zealand, a Lincoln University survey shows.

Results of the 2016 Public Perceptions of New Zealand's Environment survey were revealed on February 17 in an 82-page report by Profs Ken Hughey, Geoff Kerr, and Ross Cullen.

Asked to identify the most important environmental issues facing New Zealand today, 31.1% of survey respondents said ''water related'', 9.9% said ''agriculture related'', 8.8% said ''greenhouse gases, climate change and ozone'', and 8.4% said ''waste''.

The survey is carried out every three years. The latest one was funded by Predator Fence New Zealand, the Greater Wellington Council, Selwyn District Council, Environment Canterbury, DairyNZ, Taranaki Regional Council and Forest & Bird.

There were 2468 respondents to the electronic survey, giving it a maximum margin of error of 3% at the 95% confidence level.

The authors said New Zealanders continued to consider the state and management of the New Zealand environment to be good, and better than those of other developed countries.

''Rivers and lakes, and groundwater, were judged to be the worst-managed parts of the environment. Management of farm effluent and runoff continued to be perceived very negatively.''

Nearly 60% of respondents saw farming as one of the three main causes of damage to freshwater; the other two causes cited were sewage and stormwater, and industrial activities.

Respondents showed an overall belief that growth in production and consumption and intensification of farming, urban development and forestry were putting increasing pressure on the environment, the authors said.

Forest & Bird released a statement saying the survey showed New Zealanders ''have an overly positive view of our environment, but that we are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of primary industries on nature''.

''As New Zealanders, we love our rivers and lakes, coastlines and oceans, and we are becoming more aware of the pressures placed on these resources by our primary industries,'' Forest & Bird spokesman Geoff Keey said.

In the first survey in 2000, only 25% of respondents identified farming as a major cause of damage to the environment.

Federated Farmers High Country industry group chairman and North Otago president Simon Williamson said no-one took greater interest in the environment and water quality than farmers, whose livelihood depended on it.

The rural sector had been ''slack'' in emphasising its positive effects on the environment, he said. For example, high country waterways had remained pristine throughout the past 100 years of farming. Tests had proved that to be the case.

Irrigation had eradicated the hieracium that thrived when the Mackenzie and Upper Waitaki areas were arid, and biodiversity had increased greatly. There had been no deterioration of the water quality, and fencing had actually improved it, Mr Williamson said.

Farming families were the most likely to swim in waterways as they did not have the option of a town swimming pool, he said.

He was frustrated with ''misinformation'' being fed to urban populations, he said.

''There's work to be done.''