Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Oct 19th 2008, 9:07 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 164
Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Slow death of a dirty brown river : http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4730860a23955.html
go on....OK, if you insist :
wow..but wait, there's more :
What you mean that the picture perfect image doesn't match up to the reality?
Wairarapa's major river polluted :
http://www.age.co.nz/localnews/story...thesubsection=
Hundreds march against river pollution :
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/423466/856247
Search for Polluted river on the http://www.tourismnewzealand.com - 100% Pure NZ web-site.
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It's like an open drain. More than 100,000 cubic metres of treated waste is poured into the dirty Manawatu River each day.
go on....OK, if you insist :
Pollution is rife as sediment, runoff and treated waste chug into the waterways and change the habitats of native fish.
Dr Joy says there is a major flaw in the picture-perfect images shown in television advertisements of Tui girls frolicking in the river near the brewery in the small Tararua town of Mangatainoka.
If the girls really danced in the Mangatainoka River, which feeds into the Manawatu, they would get sick. The brewery is downstream of Pahiatua's sewage system and has itself regularly breached its discharge consent conditions, he says.
If the girls really danced in the Mangatainoka River, which feeds into the Manawatu, they would get sick. The brewery is downstream of Pahiatua's sewage system and has itself regularly breached its discharge consent conditions, he says.
What you mean that the picture perfect image doesn't match up to the reality?
Wairarapa's major river polluted :
http://www.age.co.nz/localnews/story...thesubsection=
Hundreds march against river pollution :
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/423466/856247
Hundreds of people marched through Palmerston North on Saturday to protest what they say is council-endorsed pollution of the Manawatu River.
Search for Polluted river on the http://www.tourismnewzealand.com - 100% Pure NZ web-site.
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Oct 19th 2008, 9:35 pm
#2
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,612
Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Not really. The marketing campaign is there to attract tourists, which NZ needs and migrants, which NZ needs (whether NZ likes it or not). I can totally understand it not including concerns abut pollution of NZ waterways but I do wish it would desist from stating the cost of living is lower & wages comparable to the UK etc.
The issues over some NZ waterways is quite a concern. It has to be stated here that not all NZ waterways are polluted in this way. What are councils, businesses and farmers prepared to do to improve the water quality for everyone in these areas ?
With regard to the whitebait mentioned in one of the articles, can I just say that my neighbour has just come back from whitebaiting on the west coast of the South Island. He has traditionally done this for decades. Those rivers are not the subject of the articles about pollution of the waterways. His catch of whitebait was so low this year as to be almost not worth it. He knows his New Zealand and in his opinion the low catch was/is due to weather.
The issues over some NZ waterways is quite a concern. It has to be stated here that not all NZ waterways are polluted in this way. What are councils, businesses and farmers prepared to do to improve the water quality for everyone in these areas ?
With regard to the whitebait mentioned in one of the articles, can I just say that my neighbour has just come back from whitebaiting on the west coast of the South Island. He has traditionally done this for decades. Those rivers are not the subject of the articles about pollution of the waterways. His catch of whitebait was so low this year as to be almost not worth it. He knows his New Zealand and in his opinion the low catch was/is due to weather.
Oct 19th 2008, 10:15 pm
#3
Sleazy Dippin Doodle
Joined: May 2007
Location: wellington
Posts: 1,363
Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Slightly away from the exact topic but if anyone gets a chance to hear Mike Joy speak I can suggest going along to a lecture/presentation. He really has a way of making the most dry topic seem very very interesting.
And, to be fair, freshwater is something that effects everyone. It is one of the reasons why freshwater as a conservation topic can get quite a bit of coverage - you don't have to be a greenie eco hippy to appreciate or 'get' freshwater rivers etc.
Concerns about rivers in the Manawatu area has been a concern for a while, particularly due to dirty dairying practices (either real or percieved).
And, to be fair, freshwater is something that effects everyone. It is one of the reasons why freshwater as a conservation topic can get quite a bit of coverage - you don't have to be a greenie eco hippy to appreciate or 'get' freshwater rivers etc.
Concerns about rivers in the Manawatu area has been a concern for a while, particularly due to dirty dairying practices (either real or percieved).
Oct 19th 2008, 10:20 pm
#4
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 164
Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/you...mage/??c_id=16
Since coming back to my beloved country after living overseas for 18 years, the only thing clean and green about the country is the grass which is green and the continuous rain which keeps it that colour. Recycling is a joke. There are never enough rubbish bins around the place and I'm talking about in the shopping centre car parks where they are few and far between. People dump their rubbish out in the rural areas by the truck load, cos they're either too lazy, or because they would have to pay to take it to a recycle centre. When I first came back 10 years ago, my family thought I was cookoo, because I was recycling. It goes to show how far behind the eight ball we really are. It's embarrassing.
The clean green image is 100% Pure rubbish as far as I'm concerned! Having travelled the world, and visited pristine places like Osaka, Japan with burgeoning populations living in tiny houses they need to go outside to change their minds in,we would have to be the filthiest by a country mile!
Hell no - every damn day I have to retrieve litter (bottles, fast food bags) from the front of my property because of lazy arsed tossers throwing it out of there cars as they drive past.
This country is living a lie and needs to own up and address the problems at hand. NZ's ego is writing cheques the country can't cash!
This country is living a lie and needs to own up and address the problems at hand. NZ's ego is writing cheques the country can't cash!
NZ looks clean from the window of a plane, but get down low and it's not really. 50% of the lakes in the North island are poisoned beyond saving and Kiwi's do tend to throw their s*** anywhere as a rule.
Phew, im not alone!
Last edited by Jokerman; Oct 19th 2008 at 10:23 pm.
Oct 19th 2008, 10:58 pm
#5
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Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Re the low catch of whitebait being due to weather in the opinion of someone who knows his New Zealand (I won't upset anyone here with any more talk about NZers who 'know' things as I will be accused of just being bitter after my so-called 'one bad experience', and of offending all NZers, and then others will join in for the mob attack!) - from a recent Campbell Live segment on endangered whitebait (interesting 4 minute video ):
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/09/10...-on-whitebait/
EDIT: Just to say I hadn't seen the subsequent post from Kiwiprincess above, referring to Mike Joy, before I posted here. The Campbell LIve video in the link I've posted to here features Mike Joy
Last edited by Black Sheep; Oct 19th 2008 at 11:25 pm.
Oct 19th 2008, 11:18 pm
#6
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,612
Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
I think you may have mis-interpreted . The people near the polluted waterway are stating the low catch of whitebait is due to pollution levels. This chap wasn't in a polluted area yet his whitebait catch was also extremely down. So , perhaps whitebait catches this year are simply just down. Had I not had this conversation from him when asking about his trip away, I would not have heard this about white-baiting this season. I don;t whitebait and I don;t even like the stuff . Yuk!
My neighbour is an older man who whitebaits in the same area every year. He has stated that his catch was extremely low this year and he says this is due to the weather here this year. I've no doubt he has experienced similar in past years but this is the way he talked about it for this year. Having white-baited for several decades in the same place , he will have based his view on his experience. Probably other years have been bumper seasons.
It wasn't about him being a Kiwi. It was simply relating about his personal experience & conversation to me of the whitebait season this year. This year has not been a good year. Next year may well be better.
I'm not after stating that there are no polluted waterways in NZ. That's not realistic. As you know I prefer to see a balance of postings. NZ is neither all bad or all good. The Pure Clean campaign though is not about issues that NZ faces. That is all about attracting much needed tourists and migrants. Logically, any campaign such as that needs to be made positive & attractive. That's its job.
For us on the ground though, what we need to know is what councils, farmers and businesses are prepared to do to ensure good water quality for everyone.
edited here.....
I see from the report you linked to, that several issues are raised around whitebaiting. Over fishing, salmon introduction, water quality etc.
Last edited by BEVS; Oct 19th 2008 at 11:23 pm.
Oct 20th 2008, 1:37 am
#7
---
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,994
Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
I love whitebait fritter 
Our main river here in Hawkes Bay is the TukiTuki, which I was horrified to discover is filthy dirty during summer months when it's low and slow. This is a result of sewage, farming and manufacture but particularly the first. Last summer there were many weeks where the advice was no swimming due to E-coli :curse::curse::curse:
It's a Big Issue locally though so I'm hopeful that fast forward a few years and it will be sorted
http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/WhatWeDo/Wat...9/Default.aspx
Our main river here in Hawkes Bay is the TukiTuki, which I was horrified to discover is filthy dirty during summer months when it's low and slow. This is a result of sewage, farming and manufacture but particularly the first. Last summer there were many weeks where the advice was no swimming due to E-coli :curse::curse::curse:
It's a Big Issue locally though so I'm hopeful that fast forward a few years and it will be sorted
http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/WhatWeDo/Wat...9/Default.aspx
Oct 20th 2008, 4:10 am
#8
Here in Dunedin
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Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Search for Polluted river on the http://www.tourismnewzealand.com - 100% Pure NZ web-site.
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Oct 20th 2008, 4:14 am
#9
Sleazy Dippin Doodle
Joined: May 2007
Location: wellington
Posts: 1,363
Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Yep. Selling the country as "Last Stop to Antarctica, put on your thermals" just doesn't have the same ring to it. 
Oct 20th 2008, 6:10 am
#10
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Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Oct 20th 2008, 7:24 pm
#11
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 164
Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
The Heathcote has been a dumping ground for Christchurch's residents and businesses for well over a century. Tanneries, wool-scourers and heavy industry were sited beside the river for exactly that reason. The river still suffers the after-effects of the gasworks, which leached its waste into the river until it closed. When I lived in Woolston (1986-96), about 100m from the tidal section of the river, I could tell it was high tide by the gas smell that came up through the house and collected in places like cupboards.
But before the rest of you clean, green New Zealanders mock six-fingered Christchurch, take a look at your own rivers, streams and estuaries. None of us are any better.
But before the rest of you clean, green New Zealanders mock six-fingered Christchurch, take a look at your own rivers, streams and estuaries. None of us are any better.
I did notice this story the other day : Hooker's sea lion bludgeoned to death
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4730726a7693.html
People aye?
Last edited by Jokerman; Oct 20th 2008 at 7:31 pm.
Oct 20th 2008, 8:23 pm
#12
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Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
fairly obvious to me that NZ does not deserve it's 100% pure image. No way!
I did notice this story the other day : Hooker's sea lion bludgeoned to death
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4730726a7693.html
People aye?
I did notice this story the other day : Hooker's sea lion bludgeoned to death
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4730726a7693.html
People aye?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/justice-sy...ectid=10337915
Oct 20th 2008, 9:26 pm
#13
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Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
With some effort NZ could knock a whole raft of its current problems into the waste bin and start improving its image.
Oct 20th 2008, 9:44 pm
#14
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Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
Doesn't need to improve the image just the substance!
Oct 20th 2008, 9:51 pm
#15
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Re: Not quite 100% pure, more like 67%?
NZ's gonna get the 'dirtyman of the south pacific' award if it does not take action now. This country amazes me with its piss poor waste management (and allowing kids to drive chipped up Japanese super cars). When is SOMEONE GOING TO WAKE UP AND SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL????????????????????????????? Still love it here though.
With some effort NZ could knock a whole raft of its current problems into the waste bin and start improving its image.
With some effort NZ could knock a whole raft of its current problems into the waste bin and start improving its image.
(Ah Yotty, have just seen your post.... If you mean what I think you do, I say 'too true, too true'!)