You are here: The issues Water

Sustainable Water Programme of Action

Plentiful, clean water is part of New Zealand’s heritage. Managing our waters to make sure they stay that way – or are restored to this state – is a task for all of us.

Our rivers and lakes are valuable for many reasons – for drinking water, for the environment, for irrigation, for energy, for cultural values, for recreation and for tourism. It is important that we determine how to fairly use, protect and preserve water.

This is why the Government embarked on a Sustainable Water Programme of Action which is tasked with improving freshwater management under the Resource Management Act 1991. The Sustainable water Programme of Action is coordinated by the Ministries for the Environment and Agriculture and Forestry.

A new way forward for New Zealand’s freshwater management

The Government has an agreed strategy to improve the management of fresh water, protect our freshwater resources into the future, and acknowledge the fundamental importance of water to all New Zealanders.

The strategy focuses on three national outcomes for fresh water:

Improve the quality and efficient use of fresh water by building and enhancing partnerships with local Government, industry, Māori, science agencies and providers and rural and urban communities
Improve the management of the undesirable effects of land use on water quality through increased national direction and partnerships with communities and resource users
Provide for growing demands on water resources and encourage efficient water management through increased national direction, working with local government to identify options for supporting and enhancing local decision making, and developing best practice.

To achieve these outcomes, Government proposes a suite of actions including three national instruments:

For further information on the Water Programme, please see links below:

The Sustainable Water Programme of Action process

In October 2004, Cabinet gave officials permission to consult with the public and interested parties on initial work done on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action. See the Cabinet paper outlining consultation on policy direction. In early 2005, the Government held meetings and hui throughout New Zealand to discuss the problems facing the water management framework, and to identify possible solutions. We also received about 300 written submissions.

Through this consultation process, we heard from hundreds of groups and individuals – local government, landowners, businesses, industry groups, sector groups, iwi, community organisations and individuals. While a diverse range of interests and views was expressed, some common themes emerged.

Drawing on this feedback, Cabinet approved a package of actions to be discussed and developed. Over the subsequent months, we discussed these proposals with local government and other parties and began implementation.

Background information to the discussion paper

Consultation Reports	Date
Reflections: A Summary of Your Views on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action	July 2005
Wai Ora: Report of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action Consultation Hui	July 2005
Report of the Sustainable Development Water Programme of Action Local Government Workshops	July 2005
Report of the Sustainable Development Water Programme of Action Public Meetings	July 2005
Testing the Water: Report on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action Written Submissions	July 2005
For more information, see the Environment Minister's press release about the reports
Technical Reports and Maps*	Date
Water Allocation and Use	June 2004
The Effects of Rural Land Use on Water Quality	July 2004
Potential Water Bodies of National Importance	July 2004
Identifying Freshwater Ecosystems and Sites with Nationally Important Biodiversity Values: Methodology, Criteria and Candidate List of Rivers of National Importance Biodiversity map	December 2004
Potential Waters of National Importance for Irrigation Irrigation map	August 2004
Waters of National Importance: Identification of Potential Hydroelectric Resources Energy map	July 2004
Water Bodies of National Importance: Potential Water Bodies of National Importance for Recreation Recreation map	December 2004
Potential Water Bodies of National Importance for Tourism Values Tourism map	August 2004
Summary of Existing and Potential Geothermal Resource for Electricity Generation Energy map	April 2004
New Zealand Water Bodies: Cultural Heritage Assessment: Criteria and Methodology
Summary of Water Body-Dependent Geodiversity and Geothermal Features of National Importance (from NZ Geopreservation Inventory) Geodiversity map	August 2004
Māori Cultural Values and the National Importance of Water Bodies	April 2004
New Zealand Water Bodies of National Importance for Domestic Use and Industrial Use Domestic groundwater use map Domestic surface water use map Industrial groundwater use map Industrial surface water use map	March 2004
Additional studies commissioned as part of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action	Date
Property Rights in Water Quality: A Review of Stakeholders' Understanding and Behaviour	April 2004
Economic Instruments for Managing Water Quality in New Zealand	January 2004
Property Rights in Water: A Review of Stakeholders' Understanding and Behaviour	November 2003

*Separate maps have been developed for each sub-project (except for the cultural heritage and Maori heritage projects). The maps show which water bodies have been identified for each value. Note the maps have been prepared at a catchment scale and the relevant water body may only be part of the catchment. The maps should be read in conjunction with the reports.

For more information on the Sustainable Water Programme of Action email waterprogramme@mfe.govt.nz.