Latest news with #WillAppelbe
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Luxon Government To Favour Dairy Pollution At The Expense Of Drinking Water
Press Release – Greenpeace Greenpeace Aotearoa freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe says, 'Safe drinking water requires healthy freshwater ecosystems, and that should always be the priority. But todays decision will drive more water contamination, especially in rural communities.' Luxon's Government is once again putting corporate profits ahead of people's health by proposing freshwater policies that will drive more dairy pollution at the expense of safe drinking water and swimmable rivers. The proposed changes to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, announced today, include giving more favour to corporate uses of water like intensive dairy. This fundamentally undermines Te Mana O Te Wai, the framework that prioritises the health of freshwater ecosystems and the health of community drinking water ahead of corporate uses of water. Greenpeace Aotearoa freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe says, 'Safe drinking water requires healthy freshwater ecosystems, and that should always be the priority. But today's decision will drive more water contamination, especially in rural communities.' 'Make no mistake, this will facilitate dairy expansion, and we know what that means for the country. More cows means more pollution from effluent and fertiliser, poisoning waterways with nitrate and nasty pathogens.' 'Just this year, several new dairy expansion consents have been approved in Canterbury, where many communities are facing a drinking water crisis as a result of nitrate contamination from intensive dairy.' 'The Government is meant to be protecting the health of communities, not lining the pockets of corporate polluters. We've already seen the influence the agriculture lobby has had over the rollback of freshwater protections last year, and this announcement today demonstrates how much of a hold lobbyists have over Luxon and his Cabinet.' 'But communities are ready to fight for clean drinking water and swimmable rivers, even if Luxon won't. It's more important than ever that local governments – like Environment Canterbury, which has responsibility over the majority of New Zealand's freshwater ecosystems – step up and take real action to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water.'
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Luxon Government To Favour Dairy Pollution At The Expense Of Drinking Water
Luxon's Government is once again putting corporate profits ahead of people's health by proposing freshwater policies that will drive more dairy pollution at the expense of safe drinking water and swimmable rivers. The proposed changes to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, announced today, include giving more favour to corporate uses of water like intensive dairy. This fundamentally undermines Te Mana O Te Wai, the framework that prioritises the health of freshwater ecosystems and the health of community drinking water ahead of corporate uses of water. Greenpeace Aotearoa freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe says, "Safe drinking water requires healthy freshwater ecosystems, and that should always be the priority. But today's decision will drive more water contamination, especially in rural communities." "Make no mistake, this will facilitate dairy expansion, and we know what that means for the country. More cows means more pollution from effluent and fertiliser, poisoning waterways with nitrate and nasty pathogens." "Just this year, several new dairy expansion consents have been approved in Canterbury, where many communities are facing a drinking water crisis as a result of nitrate contamination from intensive dairy." "The Government is meant to be protecting the health of communities, not lining the pockets of corporate polluters. We've already seen the influence the agriculture lobby has had over the rollback of freshwater protections last year, and this announcement today demonstrates how much of a hold lobbyists have over Luxon and his Cabinet." "But communities are ready to fight for clean drinking water and swimmable rivers, even if Luxon won't. It's more important than ever that local governments - like Environment Canterbury, which has responsibility over the majority of New Zealand's freshwater ecosystems - step up and take real action to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water."
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Slams Govt For Failure To Commit To Protecting Rivers
Greenpeace Aotearoa is slamming the Government after Parliamentary Under-Secretary for RMA Reform, Simon Court, refused yesterday to commit to upholding Water Conservation Orders, which protect lakes and rivers. Speaking at the Environmental Defence Society's annual conference, Simon Court refused to answer whether the Government would uphold existing Water Conservation Orders for rivers, as well as National Environmental Standards, under the Government's RMA reforms. Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, "Everyone should be able to swim in and fish from New Zealand's lakes and rivers without getting sick. But nearly half of New Zealand's rivers are unsafe for swimming, and many are unsuitable for food gathering. Water conservation orders are meant to protect significant waterways - the ones that are still in a good state - and ensure that they aren't also destroyed. "That's why it is deeply concerning to hear a member of the government refuse to commit to upholding the very limited protections we have for fresh water in Aotearoa. "The primary polluter of fresh water in Aotearoa is the intensive dairy industry. It has polluted lakes, rivers, and drinking water with excess nitrate contamination, as a result of the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. And their excessive water takes have sucked rivers dry in order to irrigate dairy paddocks." "Now, the government wants to allow the intensive dairy industry to pollute the few waterways that have been identified for special protection. This is a government that is letting polluters write the policy, and going against the interests of everyday New Zealanders who just want to be able to swim in their local river." "With a government that is overturning every freshwater protection that exists in order to please the dairy industry, it's more important than ever that local governments - like Environment Canterbury, who have responsibility over the majority of New Zealand's freshwater ecosystems - step up and take real action to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water." "That means phasing out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, and not allowing any new dairy conversions or intensifications to take place." "People across the country are standing up for better protection for lakes, rivers, and drinking water. If the politicians won't take action, then they should expect resistance."
Scoop
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Calls On Luxon To Show Leadership On Dairy Pollution As Canterbury Floods Highlight Growing Climate Crisis
Press Release – Greenpeace Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Will Appelbe, who is based in Canterbury, says: 'The damage caused by this extreme weather event is real, and will impact communities in Canterbury into the future. But neither is this the last time we will see flooding … Greenpeace Aotearoa says that the damage caused by this week's Canterbury floods is yet another reminder of the risk of continuing to ignore the climate crisis fuelled by the intensive dairy industry. This week, devastating floods swept through the Canterbury region, causing many at-risk areas in the Selwyn District to evacuate, and leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in Christchurch City and Banks Peninsula. Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Will Appelbe, who is based in Canterbury, says: 'The damage caused by this extreme weather event is real, and will impact communities in Canterbury into the future. But neither is this the last time we will see flooding like this in our region. 'As the climate crisis continues, we can expect to see storms like the one that battered the country this week increasing in intensity and happening more often – unless we take action to stop climate change from getting worse. 'Here in Aotearoa, the worst climate polluter is the intensive dairy industry, led by Fonterra. The oversized dairy herd is belching out huge amounts of superheating methane gas, which heats the climate much faster than carbon dioxide.' 'But as we've seen repeatedly in Canterbury, farmers are also among the first to directly experience the consequences of the climate crisis – with extreme weather events flooding their farms, or droughts leading to dry pastures.' 'The way farming is done in Canterbury has to change. We need to transition away from intensive dairying that harms the climate and pollutes waterways, towards more ecological, plant-based farming practices. And Fonterra and our Government need to support that transition.' Since the 2023 election, Christopher Luxon's Government has rolled back numerous policies that would have reduced New Zealand's impact on the climate crisis, including several in the agricultural sector. 'Cantabrians are seeing the consequences of inaction on climate change today,' says Appelbe. 'This Government's decisions have prioritised profit for a select few over a liveable future for us all.' 'Luxon must show some leadership and reverse the anti-nature decisions he has made, particularly when it comes to our country's worst climate polluter – the agricultural industry. Otherwise, the climate crisis will only get worse.' Greenpeace says that some of the communities being evacuated in the wake of this flood are also dealing with nitrate-contaminated drinking water as a result of intensive dairying. 'If we change the way farming is done, we can prevent the worst of the climate crisis by reducing methane pollution from intensive dairy, and we can protect drinking water, lakes and rivers here in Canterbury, which are under threat from intensive dairy pollution.'
Scoop
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Calls On Luxon To Show Leadership On Dairy Pollution As Canterbury Floods Highlight Growing Climate Crisis
Greenpeace Aotearoa says that the damage caused by this week's Canterbury floods is yet another reminder of the risk of continuing to ignore the climate crisis fuelled by the intensive dairy industry. This week, devastating floods swept through the Canterbury region, causing many at-risk areas in the Selwyn District to evacuate, and leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in Christchurch City and Banks Peninsula. Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Will Appelbe, who is based in Canterbury, says: "The damage caused by this extreme weather event is real, and will impact communities in Canterbury into the future. But neither is this the last time we will see flooding like this in our region. "As the climate crisis continues, we can expect to see storms like the one that battered the country this week increasing in intensity and happening more often - unless we take action to stop climate change from getting worse. "Here in Aotearoa, the worst climate polluter is the intensive dairy industry, led by Fonterra. The oversized dairy herd is belching out huge amounts of superheating methane gas, which heats the climate much faster than carbon dioxide." "But as we've seen repeatedly in Canterbury, farmers are also among the first to directly experience the consequences of the climate crisis - with extreme weather events flooding their farms, or droughts leading to dry pastures." "The way farming is done in Canterbury has to change. We need to transition away from intensive dairying that harms the climate and pollutes waterways, towards more ecological, plant-based farming practices. And Fonterra and our Government need to support that transition." Since the 2023 election, Christopher Luxon's Government has rolled back numerous policies that would have reduced New Zealand's impact on the climate crisis, including several in the agricultural sector. "Cantabrians are seeing the consequences of inaction on climate change today," says Appelbe. "This Government's decisions have prioritised profit for a select few over a liveable future for us all." "Luxon must show some leadership and reverse the anti-nature decisions he has made, particularly when it comes to our country's worst climate polluter - the agricultural industry. Otherwise, the climate crisis will only get worse." Greenpeace says that some of the communities being evacuated in the wake of this flood are also dealing with nitrate-contaminated drinking water as a result of intensive dairying. "If we change the way farming is done, we can prevent the worst of the climate crisis by reducing methane pollution from intensive dairy, and we can protect drinking water, lakes and rivers here in Canterbury, which are under threat from intensive dairy pollution."
