Archive: Waiology June 2014

The role of science and science communication in setting environmental limits

Waiology • Mar 11, 2013

• environmental limits,
• limit-setting,
• science communication,
• Water governance,
• Water resource management,
• Water resources

By Ned Norton and Helen Rouse In water resource management under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS) (2011), limit setting refers to the process of defining the amount of the resource that is available for use (in terms of both quantity and quality) while still meeting defined freshwater environment outcomes. A collaborative approach to setting limits … Read More

Government releases freshwater reform proposals

Waiology • Mar 09, 2013

• Water governance,
• Water resources,
• water resources management

By Daniel Collins On Saturday the Government released its freshwater management reform proposal – Freshwater reform 2012 and beyond. The report proposes a massive suite of reforms, stemming from work initiated in 2009 with the Government’s ‘Fresh Start for Freshwater’, and based on recommendations from the Land and Water Forum, and consultation with stakeholders and the … Read More

The Department of Conservation’s role in water governance

Waiology • Mar 08, 2013

• Biodiversity,
• conservation,
• Department of Conservation,
• ecosystem services,
• legislation,
• Water governance

By Rosemary Miller The Department of Conservation’s (DOC) vision is to foster a healthy, functioning environment today and for future generations. This includes New Zealand freshwaters. So where does DOC fit into the overall picture of water governance in New Zealand? Firstly, DOC has specific freshwater functions as set out in the Conservation Act Legislation: To preserve … Read More

Water governance – we’re getting into overdraft

Waiology • Mar 06, 2013

• environmental limits,
• integrated catchment management,
• limit-setting,
• Water allocation,
• Water governance

By Andrew Fenemor Like the challenge of balancing the household budget, we NZers are finding that despite being a ‘pluvial country’ we’re reaching allocation limits in many of our catchments. Looking back, 100+ years ago exploitation of water resources focused firstly on rivers. Then water use especially for irrigation and urban supplies moved to groundwater takes. Now as pumping … Read More

Personal reflections on the Land and Water Forum

Waiology • Mar 04, 2013

• collaboration,
• Land and Water Forum,
• Water governance,
• Water resource management,
• Water resources

By Hugh Canard I was asked to contribute to Waiology’s series on water governance, and after a very brief struggle with my inertial guidance system, I thought my contribution should be from the inside of the governance tent looking out. I have been variously engaged in the early stages of the development through to the implementation phases of … Read More

Water governance in New Zealand: An introduction

Waiology • Mar 01, 2013

• Water governance,
• Water resource management,
• Water resources

By Daniel Collins “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.” So goes the saying, often dubiously attributed to Mark Twain, when talking about water politics in the western US. And while New Zealanders are fortunate to have a much wetter climate (and tend to prefer beer or wine), we are no strangers to fights over … Read More

Unintended effect of DCD on dairy farms: Nitrification blocked in downstream freshwater ecosystems

Waiology • Feb 28, 2013

• Dairy farming,
• DCD,
• Nitrification,
• Water quality

By Marc Schallenberg Figure 1. Sign indicating use of dicyandiamide (DCD) on a farm. DCD is a fertiliser additive used to block natural microbial denitrification in the soil, reducing nitrate pollution from dairy farms. Eco-N is the trade name for a product containing DCD.In many ways, the nitrification inhibitor DCD (dicyandiamide), described previously by Dr Bob Wilcock … Read More

Wetlands series wrap-up

Waiology • Feb 08, 2013

• wetlands,
• World Wetlands Day

By Daniel Collins Over the past two weeks we’ve had seven articles on wetlands from across New Zealand’s research and management communities. The occasion was World Wetlands Day on February 2. The articles provided a great cross-section of analysis on how we perceive, preserve and study wetlands. Here is a summary: Catherine Knight, from Massey University, started the series … Read More

Progress in restoring wetlands in New Zealand

Waiology • Feb 07, 2013

• restoration,
• wetlands,
• World Wetlands Day

By Bev Clarkson The wetland restoration handbook is available free online at http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/services/biocons/wetlands/.New Zealand wetlands sustain indigenous biota, improve water quality, abate floods, lock up carbon, and provide cultural, recreational, and educational resources. Despite their multiple values, more than 90% of pre-settlement wetlands have been lost. Remaining wetlands are under increasing pressure through … Read More

Ramsar wetlands in NZ: Why are they important and where are we going?

Waiology • Feb 05, 2013

• Department of Conservation,
• Ramsar,
• wetlands,
• World Wetlands Day

By Hugh Robertson The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is a global environmental treaty that “provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources”. The Ramsar Convention was established in 1971, in the city of Ramsar, Iran. Awarua wetland Ramsar site, Southland. Source: DOC.New Zealand became … Read More