Water - the universal solvent, the life-giving compound and perhaps the most complex and controversial environmental issue our country has seen for a long time.
Ever since the Land and Water Forum released its report saying that point-source pollution was disappearing and diffuse contaminants were blamed for our increasing water quality problems, economic and environmental interests have often been at odds over water management.
Regional councils have lacked the tools within the RMA to combat widespread water pollution and when accusations fly about the legitimacy of water testing, it gives those polluters who want to maintain the status quo an excuse for inaction.
With the recent launch of Land, Air and Water Aotearoa collaboration, there is finally one place where all the testing carried out by regional councils can be easily accessed.
They have also made a real effort to explain the complexities of water quality indicators that were previously difficult for people who don't have a science degree, like me, to understand.