The Waikato River is one of the five cleanest rivers in the world, according to a leading Waikato University scientist.
Jacqueline Rowarth, Professor of agribusiness at the university, told a gathering of more than 180 farmers and land owners at Pukekohe on October 3, that in the past 70 years increased fertility and humus on farm land had allowed grasses to provide good root structure and thus better soil stability in hill country. This had steadily reduced the run-off of soil and other nutrients into waterways, and gradually river water quality across the nation was improving. The Waikato, Clutha and Waitaki Rivers were classic examples of this improvement, and all three were now rated among the top five cleanest rivers in the world.
People from as far away as Taupo and Coromandel attended the presentation. They were all concerned at the impact of the Waikato Regional Council's Healthy River Plan Change 1 (PC1) on land owners and users throughout the council's area.
The plan change proposal, aimed at restoring and protecting the Waikato and Waipa rivers, was approved last month by Waikato Regional Council for public notification. Councillors were split 7-7 on a motion to approve and the measure was passed on the casting vote of the chairperson Paula Southgate.
The meeting was organised by the Primary Land Users Group (PLUG), who had asked Professor Rowarth for her opinion on the state of the rivers running through the Waikato.