New water guidelines labelled "sneaky backdoor attack"

Fish and Game says proposed changes to the way fresh water is managed by councils will lead to economic growth being prioritised ahead of the environment. Submissions close tomorrow on the amendments to the government's national policy statement for freshwater which instructs regional councils on how to make decisions.It commissioned a report from constitutional lawyer Geoffrey Palmer QC which says the changes will undermine the Resource Management Act. Fish and Game Chief Executive Bryce Johnson says the changes are a "sneaky backdoor attack" on one of the core principles of New Zealand environment law.