howardk

...........'pure' new zealand.....should read 'polluted' new zealand.....cleaning up a few lakes,tip of the iceberg

happynz

Gotta start somewhere, eh? Sure, lots to do though.

southerner

now don't let a bit of marketing branding for tourists confuse you....its good they are cleaning the lakes up, and also there are some new initiatives on making all rivers swimmable again.

howardk

it's not the marketing that confuses me.....it's the delusional view by most kiwi's that nz is 'green & pure'.........because it is far from it......hopefully this sort of headline will get people to wake up and realise how much of a mess this country is in enviromentally.........

southerner

For all the issues there are a number of things that NZ has going for it, environmentally. That probably has led to some complacency.

howardk

....probably true.....but can't think of any significant ones....

southerner

small population
high use of renewable energy
surrounded by large expanse of ocean
large portion of lands held in conservation estate
low energy intensive farming

are a few that spring to mind

lardyl

OK, I'll do a bit of NZ defending (golly....).......all serendipidous but true IMHO.....

low population density
plenty of renewable energy
good rainfall
well developed agricultural industries (albeit with a bit of over-dairying going on in places)

lucky, aint we???

lardyl

great minds.......crossed posts.......

Nerine

But isn't that what is causing some of the problem with water quality in the lakes and rivers?

Not sure about the rainfall statement either, with a $1.24 billion drought perhaps the rain is falling in the wrong places?

And whilst we're on the subject of over-dairying perhaps this would be a good time to start reducing the number of Friesians used in milk production and replacing them with Jerseys? Then the high incidence of heart disease and diabetes in New Zealand could be reduced

A1 or A2 Milk

southerner

The problem is mainly one of poor individual farm management. The regional councils (well the ones down south at least) are taking a much harder line these days on water fouling.

That said, industry bodies don't help the situation by taking such a defensive approach to improving the environment, especially when dairying is in a boom period at this moment and could easily afford to get it right.

lardyl

amen......
what we need is some political will to make the most of these advantages and kick the over-confidence into touch........

southerner

You'll be voting the Greens then?

lardyl

that reminds me I can vote now........
apart from their left-field views on amny things none-environmental I probably could bring myself to do that - done it before when I was a card carrying member of Tony's CLP.......