Freshwater
Otago kindergarten waits for third arsenic test
An Otago kindergarten has been given the all-clear over arsenic in its drinking water in the second of three tests.
Court rules fluoridation not a medical treatment
Water fluoridation is not a medical procedure and South Taranaki acted lawfully in fluoridating water in two towns, the Court of Appeal has found.
Warning about gastro bug risk in Southland
The Southland DHB is urging people to be vigilant about washing their hands after working with animals due to a seasonal increase in gastro bug cases.
Consent to dig closer to Christchurch groundwater denied
An application to excavate less than a metre above Christchurch groundwater supplies has been turned down by the city's council.
Water rights need to be reviewed - Business NZ
The collapse of a water bottling scheme in Ashburton is another reason to examine how the rights to water are allocated in New Zealand, Business New Zealand says.
Ashburton Council won't sell rights to bottled water company
Ashburton District Council has cancelled the sale of water rights to a bottled water company. Audio
Legal threats escalate over Ashburton water sale
The Ashburton District Council has officially been put on notice that there will be legal action if the sale of water rights to a bottled water company proceeds.
Fed Farmers launch new sustainability scheme
An initiative aimed at directing farmers towards sustainable use of land and water has been launched.
International review for NZ freshwater
New Zealand's environmental performance will come under international scrutiny next week, with freshwater management in the spotlight.
Whitebait mysteries – unravelling the lives of baby native fish
Baby native fish are in the spotlight as freshwater biologists unravel the mysteries of where these tiny creatures go in the first weeks of their lives. Video, Audio
Plea to include polluted lakes in plan
Leaving two polluted Canterbury lakes out of a government plan on water quality would send a dangerous message, says an environmental expert. Audio
Water ownership back before Waitangi Tribunal
Who owns New Zealand's water remains a million-dollar question, reports Mihingarangi Forbes.
Shy fish, bold fish - insights into the lives of native fish
To understand the food webs of ponds and lakes you need to understand the personalities and lives of individual fish Audio
Green Party protests Oravida water exports
Oravida is exporting millions of litres of New Zealand water to China, and the Green Party says it is wrong that they are paying practically nothing for it.
Scientists damn water storage claims
A riled scientist is calling out claims that dams benefit the environment, as the cost of building a single Hawke's Bay water storage project balloons to $900 million.
Iwi vs Kiwi campaign slogan returns
An "iwi vs Kiwi" campaign has been rolled out again, this time by a Whangarei-based research group concerned with freshwater ownership. Audio
Ashburton ratepayers to cop aquifer refill bill
The company negotiating for rights to bottle ground water in Ashburton has been named as NZ Pure Blue. Audio
Deadline set for Hawke's Bay water management plan
A water management group in Hawke's Bay has set a deadline of December next year to present a draft management plan for some of the regions' major catchments.
Commercial use of water - who pays?
While some groups are calling for companies to be charged for the commercial use of water, others say no one should own water and no one should pay.
Council to sell rights to bottled water company
A campaign is under way to stop the Ashburton District Council selling the right to extract billions of litres of local water to a bottled water company. Video, Audio