The Greens will set up a protected rivers network to permanently safeguard New Zealand's rivers and will limit the amount of water being taken from them, the party has announced.
Russel Norman has announced the Green Party's environment policy. Photo: RNZ
Launching the Green Party's environment policy in Hamilton on Sunday, co-leader Russel Norman also announced it will limit the amount of pollution going into rivers.
He said nearly two thirds of our monitored river sites were too polluted for swimming.
Dr Norman said New Zealand had a network of national parks and reserves to protect landscape and habitats but there was nothing similar for rivers.
"We would be looking to identify some of the most important and precious rivers and to give them a protection akin to what the national park provides, that is a permanent protection."
Dr Norman said a protected river network would stop the destruction of rivers from irrigation, dams and pollution, while retaining the full right of all New Zealanders to use the rivers for food gathering and recreation.
He said overhauling and strengthening what he called the current weak National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management would limit pollution in New Zealand rivers.