September 19th, 2024
The government has committed more than $56 million over three years to address capability and capacity gaps in restoration and protection efforts for the nation's lakes, rivers, and streams, according to a media release by the Ministry for the Environment.
Eleven projects funded by the Essential Freshwater Fund (EFF) aim to upskill, train, and provide information and tools to various groups, including community organisations, tangata whenua, regional and unitary councils, rural advisory businesses, and others.
These projects will support the largest freshwater quality improvements Aotearoa has seen in decades, with the goal of stopping degradation, improving water quality, and reversing past damage to waterways. As part of the initiative, water and land users, including councils, farmers, and horticulturalists, will need to act within specific timeframes.
James Palmer, Secretary for the Environment, stated that better freshwater management systems and processes are in place, and the focus should now shift to increasing the number of knowledgeable professionals in the field.
Palmer said, "More people with the right skills and knowledge ensures Aotearoa New Zealand achieves its goal of reversing past damage to bring our waterways and ecosystems to a healthy state within a generation."
Many New Zealand farmers and growers are already taking practical actions to clean up waterways, and these new projects are designed to support and accelerate their efforts. More than $16 million will be allocated to building capability through educational programmes, tools, and resources for rural advisors and land users.
Additionally, $15 million has been earmarked for extra council staff to support catchment groups and accelerate the development of regional freshwater plans by the end of next year.
Other supported reforms include ensuring fish can pass through waterways unheeded (fish passage) by requiring collaboration between tangata whenua, communities, and councils. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) will receive $4 million in funding to develop a project that strategically identifies priority areas where fish are most at risk.
Palmer emphasised the vital role agriculture plays in improving New Zealand's freshwater quality and acknowledged the need for tailored on-farm solutions to help farmers and growers enhance their local catchment areas.