Federated Farmers is in good company when its views on water quality issues in many respects dovetail with those of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, who spoke at a Water Forum in Wellington on May 30, organised by Local Government NZ.
Few farmers would take issue with Sir Peter's key points. He said most New Zealanders would recognise that it has been the success of pastoral farming that has kept us in an economy that many in the world would envy. But primary production has also had consequences for water ecosystems.
Without ignoring dairy intensification of recent years, he pointed out that urbanisation, industrialisation and damming rivers for hydro power also take a toll on rivers and lakes. Rather than blaming any single sector, solutions will need engagement from all stakeholders.
"It takes time and a consistent and adaptive approach to clean a catchment, and it cannot be done without broad stakeholder co-operation. It will take decades in some areas. The nitrogen leaching into the upper Taupo catchment is a reflection of the nitrogen and phosphate (in fertilisers) put on the soil 80 years ago. So expecting to fix it up in two years is impossible.
"It's absolutely irresponsible for advocates, and dare I say some politicians, to make unreasonable claims over the speed of what can be achieved (but) that doesn't mean there aren't areas where rapid change is possible." He told the Water Forum the government and councils get hung up on numbers and standards.