September 19th, 2024

Regional councils must enforce water conservation orders, urges Fish & Game New Zealand

The Rakaia River has a WCO in place since 1988, which recognises its outstanding in-stream values and characteristics, such as recreational fisheries, wildlife habitats, and natural character.

The Rakaia River, one of New Zealand's largest braided rivers, has a WCO in place since 1988, which recognises its outstanding in-stream values and characteristics, such as recreational fisheries, wildlife habitats, and natural character.
The Rakaia River, one of New Zealand's largest braided rivers, has a WCO in place since 1988, which recognises its outstanding in-stream values and characteristics, such as recreational fisheries, wildlife habitats, and natural character.

Fish & Game New Zealand has called on regional councils to enforce Water Conservation Orders (WCOs) to protect the nation's rivers and lakes. WCOs, the highest level of protection for water bodies, are designed to safeguard the most exceptional wild rivers, wetlands, and lakes.

Fish & Game has secured 12 of the 15 WCOs currently in place, which cover 13 rivers and two lakes. The organisation is concerned that regional councils are not sufficiently enforcing the protection mechanisms provided by WCOs, according to its media release.

Fish & Game has joined North Canterbury Fish & Game in proceedings involving Environment Canterbury, which seeks a declaratory judgement from the Environment Court on whether it is legally obliged to monitor and enforce the WCO on the Rakaia River.

Fish & Game has secured 12 of the 15 WCOs currently in place, which cover 13 rivers and two lakes.
Fish & Game has secured 12 of the 15 WCOs currently in place, which cover 13 rivers and two lakes.

Fish & Game CEO Corina Jordan says regional councils are statutorily responsible for implementing WCOs, which she describes as "National Park[s] on a waterway."

Jordan emphasises the importance of councils taking action: “They should be required to enshrine that in regional planning, and any consents must recognise the values of these outstanding water bodies and ensure they are protected.”

Jordan contends that without proper enforcement, WCOs are ineffective and that some of the country's most precious water bodies are suffering, asserting, “Without proper enforcement, WCOs are not worth the paper they are written on – in some cases, our rivers and lakes are the equivalent of the Emperor’s new clothes.”

The Rakaia River, one of New Zealand's largest braided rivers, has a WCO in place since 1988, which recognises its outstanding in-stream values and characteristics, such as recreational fisheries, wildlife habitats, and natural character. However, Fish & Game is concerned that adequate monitoring has not been conducted on changes to the river's health, despite significant alterations to land and water use in the catchment.