December 2021

Welcome to the fifth edition of Horizons Regional Council’s Oranga Wai Our Freshwater Future e-newsletter. Oranga Wai is the way Horizons has chosen to represent all of the freshwater work we are undertaking in our region, encompassing both central government reforms and our own work programmes. 

We hope you will find it useful. Please forward it on to anyone you think would be interested and if you haven’t already, sign up to receive future copies here.  If you have areas you would like us to cover in the next newsletter, or any questions, please email info@ourfreshwaterfuture.co.nz.

This edition is all about ongoing requirements for the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater, engagement on freshwater visions as part of our work for a revised One Plan, consents and swim spots.

The 2021 wrap up for freshwater

Horizons has held meetings in various locations around our region  to discuss the implementation of central government’s Essential Freshwater Package to landowners. The meetings have been well attended with some great discussion that have been informative for all of us.

Stock holding area consents

A reminder that farmers should start turning their minds towards preparing applications for stock holding area consents. For more information please read this brochure on feedlots and stockholding areas. The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is still working on some of the detail of these regulations.  

We are also still waiting to hear back from MfE about proposed changes to:

·             Low Slope Map and Stock Exclusion regulations – the proposed changes include an improved low slope map and changes to slope category for stock exclusion of cattle, pigs and deer.

·             Intensive Winter Grazing Permitted Activity conditions – includes proposed changes to pugging and re-sowing date regulations which will no longer trigger the requirement for a consent, but will require Critical Source Area management to reduce run-off losses instead.

Ongoing discussions

The Regional Sector is in discussions with MfE to confirm the roll-out of Freshwater Farm Plans, which will hopefully be finalised by August 2022.

We are also discussing the implementation of the Synthetic Nitrogen regulations regarding the Nitrogen fertiliser cap of 190 kg N/ha/yr for grazed pasture. Dairy farms are required to report their synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use to regional councils for the period 1 July 2021-30 June 2022 by 31 July 2022. Councils are developing a common data platform to make this process easier for all those affected.

Water allocation consents

As the warmer weather settles in and rainfall decreases, please remember to adhere to the conditions of your water take consent if you have one. This includes keeping an eye on river levels (available via our environmental data platform), especially during low flows as the water level may suddenly drop to below consented minimum flows. If you have a telemetered site you can check this information regularly via Water Matters. 

What's your vision for freshwater?

In 2022, Horizons will be talking to the region’s communities as part of our implementation of central government’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM 2020). We will be seeking our communities’ visions and goals for the lakes and rivers in the Horizons region.

The NPS-FM means we need to be able to describe visions, values and objectives for freshwater in the region and then develop limits, policies and rules to protect freshwater. The overarching principle in the NPS-FM is Te Mana o te Wai. A national view of Te Mana o te Wai can be found here. More locally we are working through with tangta whenua the application of Te Mana o te Wai. All of this work will lead to a revised One Plan by 2024.

More information on these events will be coming out in the New Year. Head to our website for the public engagement timeline. 

If you are hosting an event, such as a catchment meeting, and would like to understand more about what is happening to implement the NPS-FM (2020) feel free to email us on info@ourfreshwaterfuture.nz and we can discuss having a staff member attend to answer any questions. 

You will also be able to find us at Rural Games in Palmerston North from 11-13 March 2022 and the Central Districts Field Days from 17-19 March 2022

Swimspot monitoring 

Every year, a team of Horizons research assistants head out to swim spots across the region to collect water quality information that helps you decide where it is ok to swim. Our team monitor for potentially toxic algae (cyanobacteria) and bacteria (E.coli at freshwater sites or Enterococci at beaches) as these are the best indicators to let you know if you might get sick from contact with the water.  

E. coli and Enterococci samples are sent to an independent accredited lab for testing, with results being made available within in 1-3 days. results are updated weekly and are available alongside national Can I Swim Here? data at lawa.org.nz

Cyanobacteria in rivers forms black mats attached to rocks in or above the water . In lakes, look for bright green scums on the shore and on top of the water. See the video below for what cyanobacteria looks like at freshwater and lake sites. These can be harmful if you come into close contact with them particularly for children and dogs. Green algae is often present in rivers over the summer. Often swimmers think this is a sign the water isn’t safe to swim, this is typically a non-toxic algae and is unlikely to cause you any harm.

The percentage of cyanobacteria from the bankside is first determined, and if cyanobacteria is seen, a more intensive in-stream survey is conducted. Cyanobacteria results are made available immediately upon the team’s return to the office as the bacteria is visually assessed at each swim spot.

We advise that you check lawa.org.nz and do not swim within 48 hours of heavy rainfall. Remember rivers can be unpredictable, supervise children and check there are no hazards like large logs. Always check the water is clean and clear before taking a dip.

For more information on swimspots, cyanobacteria, Enterococci and E. coli head to lawa.org.nz

2021 has been a year of change and challenges, as we look to 2022 it is likely we will need to continue to adapt to the changing world around us. Stay safe and enjoy the holidays with friends and whānua.

We hope you have found this newsletter useful. More information, including documents relating to the National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standards for Fresh Water, and Frequently Asked Questions, can be found on our website.