Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Action 1: Providing national direction for water management
This action explored the need for central government to provide greater direction and
support to local government. The RMA provides some processes for central government
to give direction to local government on issues that are nationally important. The
mechanism to achieve this is a national policy statement and/or national environmental
standards.
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At the moment neither of these has been developed for freshwater. These
two mechanisms could help local government agencies when developing regional policy
statements and regional plans.
The WPoA is also looking at whether and how central government might need to
intervene in local water issues. One step would be to identify priorities around particular
values, such as tourism, ecology, energy generation, irrigation and recreation, for
management.
Action 2: Central government being more involved in regional water issues
generally
This action considered how central government could be more involved in working
with local government. For example, supporting local government by providing
information or funding, and working together on pilot projects or making whole-of-
government submissions on regional plans. The Lake Taupo case, described above, is an
example of central and local government working together along with others such as
farmers, foresters and local M
Action 3: Providing more tools for regional councils
This action explored a range of possible tools to deal with the over-allocation of water
and declining water quality. It looked at improving technical efficiency, the use of
market-based instruments and setting priorities.
The issue of market-based instruments received some strong responses during
consultation. To the extent that any tool entails payment for access to the resource,
perceptions of 'privatisation' of water arise. This may carry particular risks for Treaty of
concerns in the broader community. These risks can be managed to some degree by open
consultation to increase understanding of the instruments, and by more effective
Consideration of market-based instruments included:
modifying the first-in, first-served system using market-based approaches;
enhancing the transferability of water resource consents;
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The purpose of a national policy statement is to state policies on matters of national significance
that are relevant to achieving the purpose of the RMA. National environmental standards are a
type of central government regulation prescribing technical standards relating to the use,
development and protection of natural and physical resources including contaminants, water
quality, levels or flow, and soil quality in relation to the discharge of contaminants.
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