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How ECan Resolved its declared Nitrate Emergency

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A meeting held in ECan’s council chambers, Wednesday 23 September 2026 when ECan voted to distance itself from the Nitrate Emergency it had declared only a year previously marked the nadir in the history of the Environment Canterbury Regional Council. … Continue reading →

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Our drinking water isn’t a political debate-it’s a basic human right.

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A year ago, Environment Canterbury (ECan) took a historic step by declaring a Nitrate Emergency. But declarations don’t clean our aquifers. When ECan voted to declare a Nitrate Emergency, you publicly acknowledged that status quo management of our groundwater has … Continue reading →

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Salmon genetics – Myths, legends and a few scattered facts

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How salmon management policy based on scientific papers can be factually correct and misleading at the same time in recent years? Executive Summary The key point for anglers, the Minister, and Fish & Game is simple: the salmon genetics debate … Continue reading →

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A Book to Get Kids Outdoors Observing Nature

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Book review: “Pocket Observology; A Field Guide by Giselle Clarkson, published by Gecko Press, price $27.99 reviewed by Tony Orman. There’s no doubt about the benefits of getting kids outdoors, hopefully of a prelude to taking up fishing. In any case, … Continue reading →

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Election Fishing: Where Are Freshwater Fisheries?

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With the General Election approaching, political parties are increasingly unveiling policies aimed at New Zealand’s fishing sector. ACT’s recently announced six-point fisheries plan includes proposals to rebuild marine fish stocks, establish a separate management area for the Hauraki Gulf, permanently … Continue reading →

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Can One Exotic Species Help Control Another?

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New Zealand has spent decades battling introduced aquatic weeds that choke lakes, smother waterways and reduce the recreational and ecological values of our freshwater environments. Management options are often expensive, labour-intensive or controversial. Herbicides can be effective, but they raise … Continue reading →

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Biosecurity Isn’t Just About Birds

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When most New Zealanders hear the word biosecurity, they probably think of foot-and-mouth disease or, more recently, H5N1 avian influenza. Yet some of the greatest biosecurity threats facing our freshwater fisheries receive very little public attention. While anglers focus on … Continue reading →

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How Sediment Destroys Fisheries

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North Rakaia River below Bain’s Bridge [The content in square brackets below is cut and pasted from an AI generated google search. My own contribution will continue beneath; Excessive sediment-soil, sand, and silt entering waterways-is considered one of the leading … Continue reading →

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Rakaia Salmon Statue

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Greenpeace’s protest action regarding the Rakaia salmon statue highlighted the destruction of the Rakaia Salmon fishery, but missed with its messaging. If “Fonterra” were seen as a metaphor for agribusiness and Ministries such MPI and Mfe, then the protest action … Continue reading →

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Canterbury’s Nitrate Emergency

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Has destroyed much of Canterbury’s recreational Fisheries in addition to the threat to public health A post by past-chairman Peter trolove The Nitrate Emergency is framed around human health. As a freshwater angler I am struck by ECan’s total disregard … Continue reading →

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