Press Release – Forest And Bird Government Ministers need to review their decision to leave out nitrogen pollution limits from last year’s freshwater law reform. Yesterday, Radio New Zealand revealed the Government ignored advice from the Freshwater Leaders’ Group, Kaahui Wai Mori, …
Government Ministers need to review their decision to leave out nitrogen pollution limits from last year’s freshwater law reform.
Yesterday, Radio New Zealand revealed the Government ignored advice from the Freshwater Leaders’ Group, Kaahui Wai Māori, the Science and Technical Advisory Group, Ministry for the Environment, and the Regional Sector Group about introducing a nitrate pollution bottom line of 1.0 mg/L (DIN) for rivers, after the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) advised it would be too expensive for industry.
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The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) opposed introducing a tough bottom line for nitrogen levels in rivers over concerns the economic impact would outweigh the environmental benefit, documents show.
Emails show MPI staff wanted the economic cost of introducing a bottom line pushed more prominently in a Cabinet paper about nitrogen level options put to ministers in May 2020.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
MPI repeatedly clashed with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), even though scientific experts said a Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DIN) level of 1 mg/L was the best way to protect rivers.
Emails obtained under the Official Information Act show MPI staff wanted the economic cost of introducing a bottom line pushed more prominently in a cabinet paper about nitrogen level options put to ministers in May 2020.