Lake Waikare, in the North Island region of Waikato, the dairy powerhouse of New Zealand, is one of the most polluted lakes in the country. Credit Iain McGregor/Stuff Limited
With your help, we can clean up our waterways and build a smarter, greener economy.
Let’s not let the government rip up strong protections and allow polluters to destroy what we hold dear. Robust regional freshwater plans were set to be introduced by January 2025 following a longrunning campaign by Forest & Bird and other e-NGOs.
Local councils were on the cusp of starting to clean up the dire state of hundreds of lakes and rivers after years of unchecked intensive agriculture and other polluting industries severely degrading them.
For example, more than 95% of our rivers in urban, rural, and non-native forest areas currently fail to meet water quality guidelines. Check out the Lakes380 map on this page. It shows the state of our waterways – red is bad, and green is good.
Since 1990, dairy cattle numbers in New Zealand have nearly doubled. Nitrogen fertiliser application has skyrocketed by 629%.
Today, numerous swimming spots pose a high risk of infection. Nitrate levels in groundwater, including some sources of drinking water, continue to rise.
Most of our native fish are threatened or at risk of extinction. We’ve drained or destroyed almost all wetlands.
Thanks to your support and donations, Forest & Bird has spent decades working alongside communities to fight for clean, healthy freshwater. Recently, good progress had been made.
The Labour government approved a policy that requires decision-makers to prioritise the health and wellbeing of water and communities over polluting industries and private profit.
For the first time in New Zealand’s history, our country was going to put the health of our waterways and communities above private profits.
But now Prime Minister Luxon and his coalition government want to dismantle this progress, putting polluters back in control.
We can’t let this happen. We must act swiftly.
OUR WATER QUALITY IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR
The government plans to replace Aotearoa New Zealand’s freshwater policy by mid-next year, prioritising polluting industries over human health and the environment.
Everything we’ve fought for in recent decades is at risk of being undone in this government’s War on Nature. That’s why we need your help.
Your tax-deductible donation can help us fight back. A gift will support Forest & Bird’s experts to fight the changes and challenge the government’s plans.
If we don’t act today, more people will suffer from poor drinking water, and our already-stressed environment and threatened native species won’t stand a chance.
There is another way. Let’s protect and restore our waterways for future generations.
Please donate today at forestandbird.org.nz/fightforfreshwater.