Potted History of Freshwater Management in New Zealand

Abstract

This article traces the history of freshwater management in New Zealand from the earliest laws to protect newly introduced trout and salmon from pollution in the 1860s through to what an increasing number of New Zealanders today consider as a ‘freshwater crisis’ – a consequence of the failure of government to respond adequately to the unprecedented speed and scale of land use intensification and its impacts over the last few decades. Two themes are highlighted by this history: the tension between the protection and use of our water (and land) resources; and the tendency of government to intervene only when serious environmental damage has become evident.

Tracing the neglect of lakes in New Zealand's freshwater politics

“…Early legislation governed lakes for water supply, hydropower, effluent disposal and fishing, and land drainage for farming and housing (White, 1998). This extractive legislation enabled widespread pollution, modification of lake levels and species introductions, dramatically reshaping lake ecosystems (Knight, 2019). Many of these laws are still in effect (in part) today (e.g., Ellesmere Lands Drainage Act 1905), legally embedding historical lake uses as constraints on contemporary management (e.g., maximum/minimum lake levels) and limiting restoration opportunities.…”

“…In this article, we will argue that limited public awareness and advocacy for lakes is mirrored by government underinvestment in lake management, contributing to an overall ‘politics of neglect’. While a few high‐profile lakes have benefited from policy and restoration interventions due to their socio‐economic importance, most have received limited protection (Edgar, 2008; Knight, 2019).…”