Our Water

to keeping your water clear The actions of 100 years ago still have a profound effect on our water today, but there are things you can do to help.

5 easy ways to clear up your water

The landscape of Aotearoa is diverse.

Every catchment is different, with unique soils, geology, vegetation, waterways and climate.

Managing our land in a way that protects and enhances natural assets like soil and water will help to ensure a sustainable future.

Decisions made in the last 100 years have had a significant impact on the health of our land and water. Clearing of native forest that took place over a century ago continues to affect us during storms. In February 2004, a weekend of heavy rainfall resulted in around 200 million tonnes of soil being stripped from farmland and deposited into waterways. Flooding then affected much of the North Island and caused an estimated $300 million in damage.

Our vulnerability to such events is dependant, in part, on land cover. The type and location of soil and vegetation influences the stability of land and movement of water throughout a catchment. Trees and shrubs provide canopy that intercepts rainfall, and their root systems help to hold soil in place. This reduces surface water run-off and minimises the amount of sediment and nutrients like phosphorus entering waterways. Reducing sediment build-up means: rivers have more capacity during a flood, reducing risk to people and property; flood protection schemes last longer; water clarity is improved which benefits tourism, fishing and swimming;

aquatic ecosystems improve, important for fish and bugs which like to make their homes in rocky-bottomed river and stream beds.

During the past decade, significant investment has been made throughout New Zealand to minimise erosion and improve our resilience to future storms. The cost of hill country erosion is estimated at around $100 million - $150 million per year, including loss of production, loss of soil and nutrients from productive land, damage to housing, roads, power and communication, and damage to flood schemes and water supply infrastructure.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) currently helps protect vulnerable land in our most erosion-prone regions through the Hill Country Erosion Programme. This programme provides $2.2 million a year in grants and support to regional projects that help hill country landowners implement sustainable management practices and minimise the risk of erosion.

Grant schemes differ between councils, but typically provide services such as: free advice; community facilitation; funding to support the development of environmental farm plans; soil conservation works; afforestation, or planting of poplars and willows.

As the climate continues to change, it is expected that we will experience more frequent (and extreme) weather events. This means the work we do now has an immediate benefit, and also helps prepare us for the future.

The clearing of native forests over 100 years ago still affects us, particularly during storms.