In New Zealand a group of citizens is looking to increase the scrutiny of fresh water quality.
October 18, 2016
A grassroots environment group (click here) is ramping up a lobbying campaign for more stringent "bottom line" rules around freshwater quality.
It comes as Kiwis head for their favourite swimming holes this summer and recently-issued report cards show the water quality in many of the Auckland region's rivers and streams are poor.
The student-led Choose Clean Water group, which this year presented a 12,000-signature petition to Parliament, last week appeared before a parliamentary select committee to discuss its call for freshwater quality bottom lines to be "swimmable" rather than "wadeable".
Spokesperson Marnie Prickett remained hopeful the Government would take its message on board when it consulted further on freshwater reforms.
"The public has really made it clear that a wadeable bottom line is not good enough," she said.
"There has been a lot of pressure around that and I think the Government is really feeling it."...
