There was enormous resource and work being put into finding practical workable solutions and some good progress has been made, such as Otago's Shag River. It was named most improved river at the recent inaugural New Zealand River awards.
Fonterra recently confirmed that our suppliers will have fenced over 20,000 kilometres of waterways.
"Much of the good news is outside the scope of Dr Jan Wright's report, such as the National Objectives Framework for freshwater management that was released for consultation recently" said Mr Mackenzie.
That report gives communities the power to set their own aspirations for water, which is environmentally, culturally, economically and scientifically informed. National bottom lines are proposed and based on the input of 60 of New Zealand's top freshwater scientists.
Either way, this will not be easy and will need some sacrifice from agriculture and urban communities alike. If anything Dr Wright's report confirms this as a sound policy track.
As Dr Wright's last water report revealed, water quality is a function of nitrogen and phosphorous as well as sediment and e-coli. This means every New Zealander has a part to play in improving water quality.
Outside the range of Dr Wright's report there is considerable research going into the farm system from soils to livestock.
AgResearch, for one, is investigating both nitrogen and phosphorus losses from pastoral land use to water.
The scope of this research includes improving our understanding of nutrient transport processes, methods for reducing nutrient losses, and adoption as well as practice change.
They also undertook another project this year looking specifically at improving our understanding of phosphorus loss to groundwater and connected surface waters in areas with shallow soils.
Meanwhile, Dr Wright reminded those present at the launch that she is the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and not for the economy.
The focus of her report is the environment and the Federation would welcome the opportunity to contextualise her findings.
As highlighted earlier this year in the National Farming Review, Lake Rotorua demonstrated what is possible when a community pulls together.
Modelling for Lake Rotorua indicated it would take decades to improve but those targets were actually reached last year.
Moreover, Landcare Research shows we are losing productive farmland at a rate of knots. On average 5800 new lifestyle blocks have been added every year since 1998 and they now cover an astonishing 873,000 hectares.
The Federation congratulates Dr Wright for encouraging a collaborative approach towards this issue and her contribution to the debate.
