Fencing waterways a winner: Greens

KEEPING IT GREEN: John Hart (centre), Wairarapa Green Party candidate, holds a pristine sample of water taken from Blue Spring, and one from near the mouth of the river at Turua.

The Green Party has launched its Smart farming for Clean Rivers policy, the final component of its election pledge to make all New Zealand rivers clean enough for swimming.

Party co-leader Russel Norman made the announcement at a dairy farm in Raglan at the weekend. The farm's owners have created 14km of fenced and planted waterways and nine hectares of protected wetlands, which Dr Norman said should be a model for others.

The Greens' policy is two-fold; fencing off livestock from all waterways, lakes and permanent wetlands, and a charge on water used for irrigation.

Wairarapa candidate John Hart said many farmers already excluded livestock from waterways. "But too many cows across Wairarapa still have access to river and stream banks. Our policy goes beyond Fonterra's and will exclude both dairy and dry stock from our rivers and streams."

Attaching a nominal charge to water taken for irrigation would provide a price signal to water users that would drive more efficient use, he said.

"All revenue from this charge will be ring-fenced for fresh water clean-up initiatives."

The party proposes that all permanent fencing have a set standard by July 2017 for farms with intensive agricultural operations. Dr Norman said the environment and farmers would benefit.

"Fencing livestock out of rivers and planting riverbanks has numerous economic benefits for farming: less stock loss in wet areas, lower vet bills, reduced costs for digging drains, weed control in riparian areas and fertiliser costs, increased land values, and better pasture quality," he said.

"But fencing dairy cows out of streams is a token gesture if you stop at that, as National has done. The key is ensuring the fences are set back from streams to provide a buffer zone of vegetation."