water conservation order
A water conservation order is a legal ruling to protect aspects of water bodies. It may be to protect the quantity of the water itself or for any issues relating to the water body as a whole.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, a Water Conservation Order is used to protect the natural, cultural and recreational values of any water body.[http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1991/0069/latest/DLM236751.html Part 9] of the Resource Management Act 1991 Water Conservation Orders came about as a result of lobbying by a group of stakeholders in the late seventies. At that time rivers were managed through the Water & Soil Conservation Act, which was administered by an appointed statutory body (NWASCA) serviced by the Ministry of Works. The engineers of the Ministry of Works argued that there was no need to legislate further as the Act contained provision for setting Minimum Flows.
There are currently 15 separate Water Conservation Orders:{{cite web| url=https://www.mfe.govt.nz/fresh-water/water-conservation-orders/existing-water-conservation-orders| publisher=Ministry for the Environment| title=Existing water conservation orders |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200603040143/https://www.mfe.govt.nz/fresh-water/water-conservation-orders/existing-water-conservation-orders |archive-date=3 June 2020}}
{{div col}}
- Ahuriri River
- Buller River
- Grey River / Māwheranui
- Kawarau River
- Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora
- Lake Wairarapa
- Manganuioteao River
- Mataura River
- Mohaka River
- Motueka River
- Mōtū River
- Ōreti River
- Rakaia River
- Rangitata River
- Rangitīkei River
{{div col end}}
A water conservation order has been proposed for the Hurunui River in the South Island.
Irrigation New Zealand, the national body representing agricultural irrigators and the irrigation industry, opposes water conservation orders. Irrigation NZ considers they no longer have relevance, they lock up the water resource and they may bankrupt the nation.{{cite press release
|url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1208/S00032/water-conservation-orders-have-no-role-in-sustainable-future.htm
|title=Water Conservation Orders Have No Role In Sustainable Future |publisher=Irrigation NZ |date= 13 August 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603041923/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1208/S00032/water-conservation-orders-have-no-role-in-sustainable-future.htm|archive-date= 3 June 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Curtis |first1=Andrew |title=Andrew Curtis: Water conservation orders dam up vital discussion |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/97590622/andrew-curtis-water-conservation-orders-dam-up-vital-discussion |accessdate=29 June 2018 |work=Stuff |date=6 October 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603041746/https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/97590622/andrew-curtis-water-conservation-orders-dam-up-vital-discussion| archive-date=3 June 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://rivers.org.nz/article/WaterConservationOrders Water Conservation Orders] New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association web pages describing New Zealand water conservation orders.
- [http://www.rmaguide.org.nz/rma/otherprocesses/waterconservationorders.cfm Water Conservation Orders] Environmental Defence Society RMA Guide web page.
Category:Environmental policy in New Zealand
Category:Water and the environment
{{environment-stub}}