Kia Ora 

Today the Government announced the Action for healthy waterways package aimed at cleaning up our rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands, and has committed more than $700 million to help farmers, iwi/Māori, local government, and communities implement the reform measures.

The regulatory reform package delivers on the Government’s commitment to stop further degradation, make immediate improvements, and restore waterways within a generation.

A suite of information about the reforms has been proactively released on the Ministry for the Environment’s website. This includes the Cabinet papers, a summary of submissions report, the Independent Advisory Panel’s and advisory groups’ final reports, and the impact assessment reports. Over the coming weeks we will upload the record 17,500 individual submissions that came in.

We have also published a series of information sheets for iwi/Māori, farmers, horticulturalists, and regional councils which provide a summary of what they need to do, more detail on the requirements, and background on how the Government got to this point.

Many people had a hand in bringing this package together over the past two years – iwi/Māori, the primary sector, scientists, environmental groups, local and central government, and members of the public. I would like to thank and acknowledge everyone who contributed for their expertise and concern.

The Ministry looks forward to working with you to transform our waterways in the years ahead.

Ngā mihi nui

Martin Workman
Acting Deputy Secretary Climate and Water
Ministry for the Environment