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ECan Wakes Up – Just – to the Nitrate Crisis

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Compiled by CORANZ Environment Canterbury (ECan), has carried a motion to declare a nitrate emergency at its final meeting recently. But the vote was narrowly carried — nine for, seven against — indicating some councillors are in a state of denial. The motion from Councillor Vicky Southworth called on ECan “to take a leadership role … Continue reading

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Hidden Chemicals in Our Food and Water?

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Guest post by Dave Rhodes Why New Zealand Cannot Ignore the Global Warning on Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA)** For years, we have raised alarms about chemical contamination in our rivers, lakes and soils. From pesticides in groundwater to nitrates in drinking water, the story has been depressingly familiar: issues appear overseas … Continue reading

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Are Fish Really “Heading South”? The Real Reason Stocks Are Shifting — And It’s Not What Most People Think

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Guest post by Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Prompted by this RNZ article I decided to write this short note: Public debate has recently been stirred by claims that marine fish are “moving south” as northern waters warm. The suggestion is often that adult fish are packing up … Continue reading

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Whitebait Crisis — Why NZFFA Should Be Concerned

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Guest Post by Dave Rhodes 🐟 What’s the problem? A major national report published recently warns that several whitebait species are at serious risk because of declining waterway health. (RNZ) inanga, kōaro, banded kōkopu, giant kōkopu, and shortjaw kōkopu all in decline In short: it’s not just about … Continue reading

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Rotorua’s Rotting Weed Is a Warning for Every Lake in New Zealand

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Guest Post by Dave Rhodes Visitors to Rotorua are used to a certain smell. The geothermal sulphur haze is part of the city’s character. But recently another odour has taken over the lakefront — the stench of rotting aquatic weed and dead fish. While the media focus has been on the impact to lakeside cafés, … Continue reading

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We Won’t Miss Regional Councils – But We Still Need a Referee for the Rivers

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Guest Post by Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ 1. The Government’s Announcement In mid‑2025 the New Zealand Government announced a sweeping shake‑up of local government: elected regional councils are to be abolished. In their place will be newly created Combined Territories Boards (CTBs), made up of the mayors from each city … Continue reading

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High-Value Visitors, Fragile Rivers: Why Clean Fresh Water Matters to New Zealand’s Angling Visitors

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A Guest Opinion from Andi Cockroft, Charman, CORANZ Introduction: A Standout Asset Under Pressure New Zealand’s reputation as a world-class destination for freshwater angling is firmly established. From the braided rivers of the South Island to remote alpine lakes, overseas anglers are drawn to clear water, trophy trout, and the experience of fishing … Continue reading

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Freshwater Under Pressure: What New Zealand’s Water Quality Means for Contact Recreation

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A guest post from Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ A quiet change in the places we once trusted For generations, New Zealanders have formed an almost instinctive relationship with fresh water. Rivers, lakes, springs, and swimming holes have been more than just geographic features — they have been … Continue reading

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Winding up my campaign as a candidate for ECan for Mid-Canterbury

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Dr Peter Trolove This is my second attempt to stand for ECan in the Mid-Canterbury ward. I was not as committed on my first attempt as I had committed to work as a locum vet on the West Coast over spring causing me to miss many “meet the candidate” events. Now fully retired I have given this campaign my full … Continue reading

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Managing a Nitrate Emergency

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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies ingested nitrate and nitrite, under conditions that lead to endogenous nitrosation, as Group 2A: Probably Carcinogenic to Humans. This means there is limited evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in experimental animals for carcinogenicity. The concern arises because ingested nitrates and nitrites can convert … Continue reading

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