Freshwater
New coalition forms to tackle freshwater quality
A cross-sector group says successive governments' inaction on degraded waterways has spurred them to come together to forge a new plan. Audio
Water consent at former plant bought by Chinese investors
A lucrative water consent attached to a former wool-scouring plant in Christchurch has been bought by a group of Chinese investors.
West Coast water export project approved
A major West Coast water export project has been approved despite opposition from water rights campaigners.
Farmers not quite there yet on water targets - Dairy NZ
Farmers still have a long way to go to meet some water clean-up targets, but the work done so far should be acknowledged, Dairy NZ says.
New swimmable standard 'less stringent' - NIWA
The government's plan to make New Zealand's rivers more swimmable is not tougher than the old standards, according to an official report.
Reduce dairy cow number to stop water harm - ecologist
A minister's remark that the intensification of dairy farming can't go on is decades too late, says ecologist Mike Joy.
Guy: Limit to how much dairy intensification NZ can handle
The Primary Industries Minister, Nathan Guy, says there's a limit to how much dairy intensification New Zealand can handle and the industry needs to concentrate on increasing the value of exports, not… Audio
NZ needs to act now on rivers, top official warns
New Zealand cannot afford to wait to address problems with fresh water, the head of the Ministry for the Environment says. Audio
Landmark report finds freshwater at risk
Nitrogen levels have got worse in more than half the rivers monitored by environment officials, the government's first dedicated freshwater report shows.
'Spray and pray' method being used in Southland
The controversial 'spray and pray' farming method, being blamed for contaminating waterways in Rangitikei, is being used in Southland.
Water demands would dry up iconic central Otago river, farmers say
Water flow demands by Otago Regional Council would dry up an iconic river in the Maniototo every summer, a group of local farmers says.
Central Otago farmers get ready to fight for water
Farmers fear they will be left high and dry as Otago's 150-year-old water licence system expires, reports Ian Telfer for Insight. Audio
Whanganui River's water 'pinched' for power
Water Fools? - An ancient proverb emphasises the Whanganui River's sacred flow from the mountain to the sea, but it is now being diverted for electricity.
Water Fools? - 'Pinched' for power
An ancient proverb emphasises the Whanganui River's sacred flow from the mountain to the sea. What happens when it's diverted for electricity? Audio
Race to save sparkling Southern Lakes
As Queenstown and Wanaka's populations explode, RNZ series Water Fools? finds it's a race against time to protect the pristine Southern Lakes from urban runoff.
Canterbury farmers set out to 'recharge' fresh water
Hopes are high that injecting fresh water back into the ground will reduce dairy farms' impact, but RNZ series Water Fools? finds not everyone's convinced.
High country community divided by fence plan
Green groups are outraged at a plan to spend ratepayer money on a fence that would allow iconic high country land to be more intensively farmed.
Spray and pray 'just asking for an environmental disaster'
A new intensive farming practice in the Rangitikei known as spray and pray is an environmental disaster waiting to happen, according to Fish and Game.
Otago water-bottling licence info released
Details of two more water bottling permits in the region have emerged, but the council says it does not believe any bottling is actually taking place.
Labour accuses PM of putting off water tax question
The government is "kicking the can down the road" on taxing water, and bottling companies should be paying a levy to regional councils, Labour leader Andrew Little says. Video