The net result will see the farming of animals only undertaken on flat country, with slopes being used for a wide variety of commercial plant uses, which will also result in the filtration of water into streams and rivers, with only organic-based control of weeds etc.
The advent of manuka honey is proving of great benefit to the back country. It is a stark lesson in correct land utilisation.
Where in the past we were cutting scrub to provide more grazing for our sheep and cattle, the combination of animals and heavy rain on the light soils saw severe land erosion, as was evident after the widespread flooding in June 2015.
Now many farmers are planting manuka - and, on another positive note, the manuka honey industry has attracted more employment to the back country.
While I am an avid environmentalist, I also believe in worthwhile employment, so let us consider the West Coast of the South Island for a moment.
The economy there was initially based on mining and logging but, due to widespread logging opposition and the lessening demand for coal, the emphasis has changed to tourism. And what a success that has been, with over 800,000 tourists visiting last year.
Their rainfall is heavy, yet due to the large areas of heavy bush providing a natural filtration system, the rivers are nearly always clean. The pristine environment and its associated industries are a lesson for all to take note of.
Looking briefly at the dairy industry and its reliance on water, one has to question whether milk or water is the more valuable.
Every day millions of litres of water are used for irrigation or for providing drinking water for cows. Would it not be more viable to simply bottle and sell the water?
To the traditional farmer this may seem like a crazy equation - but think about it.
Go into any store and buy a bottle of water and a carton of milk and compare the prices.
Then compare the result with the cost of milking the cows against pumping water from a stream or bore?
A lot has been written about pollution in the air, but what about pollution under the ground?
Millions of treated poles have been used in the wine industry, especially in Marlborough, and the treatment solution includes arsenic. Would this not be contaminating bore reservoirs? Why aren't we using untreated poles?
The answer lies with the large areas of pine grown for house timber and for posts. Big business would not allow us to make a change now.
And what happens with this timber when it has outlived its usefulness - how do we get rid of it? In a minor way could it not be compared with nuclear waste?
Good clean drinking water belongs to all New Zealanders. An industry could be formed to run along the formula used by Fonterra, with strict guidelines for supply.
It is imperative that we do not lose control to China or whoever. While it may seem of small consequence now to our present authorities, I feel all New Zealanders should be made aware of the importance of water to our future.
It may happen only gradually, but it will happen.
* Colin Cox is a farmer from Fordell and the inventor of a possum belt that relieves back pain.
