The NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA) is seeking the views of political parties on the decline in freshwater quality and flows. Responses to the questions will be collated and assessed and voters made aware of ratings.
NZFFA spokesman Grant Henderson said freshwater and groundwater quality and river flows, were at a crisis stage.
A 2026 report by the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ has revealed 63 percent of assessed lakes were categorised as being in poor or very poor health, while 54 percent of river length showed moderate or severe organic pollution. Almost half of groundwater in aquifers exceeded drinking water limits for e coli and 12 percent exceeded nitrate limits.
“This is appalling for a country of just 5.4 million people and one that brands itself as 100 percent pure and clean and green,” said Mr Henderson.
The impact on the public’s trout and salmon fisheries has been devastating with fish numbers collapsing while NZFFA warned the impact of high nitrate levels reflecting overseas studies, resulted in bowel cancer rates in areas like South Canterbury and Southland ranking among the highest in the world.
Mr Henderson denied that anglers were protecting their own private recreational interests.
“Our fresh waters are not private. The fisheries are not private. They’re publicly owned for a wide range of public uses. As for our fisheries, the early settlers intended to establish fisheries on egalitarian lines so any citizen had the opportunity to go fishing.
Mr Henderson said at the time of the 2017 election, the health of rivers was a top voter concern but had slipped somewhat since with other issues like cost of living emerging.
“There’s a need to elevate the environment back into the public consciousness leading up to the election,” he said. “Trout and salmon numbers reflect water quality, somewhat like the canary in the coal-mine scenario.”
Contact: Grant Henderson e mail <granden@xtra.co.nz>
Phone 021 0890 8125 or (09) 480 8979
Good one NZ Federation Freshwater Anglers!
Let’s get the environment and rivcers back on the agenda as it was in 2017 election.
I am so pleased to see someone, some body standing up for the public sport of trout and salmon fishing and clean rivers.
River advocacy involves protecting freshwater ecosystems, restoring water quality, and securing that public ownership for waterways. The PM John Key in 2012, fatuously said water belongs to nobody. Well John Key it belongs to the public.
Shane Jones and Chris Bishop think water belongs to them e.g. their Fast Track Approval Act.
A government that works for the environment, is a people government, New Zealanders need to know what all parties views are on our fresh water, everyones most important commodity which is not for sale.
Good to see NZFFA putting the boot into the pollies!
Fish and Game Councils can’t do this sort of work. Despite all the money we pay for fishing licences.
The Buller river has a conservation act on it .However the Government are exempt from these Acts ,and alter them for thier own agendas .IE 1080 poison drops. You will not get a response from any of the Major political parties .
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2001/139/en/2007-09-03/.