Swimmability warnings are present whether the site is in a city, town, or rural area. Photo / Dean Purcell
Swimmability warnings are present whether the site is in a city, town, or rural area. Photo / Dean Purcell
THE FACTS
Heavy rain flushes contaminants into waterways, prompting nationwide warnings not to swim for 2–3 days after storms.
Sewerage and water infrastructure failures can stem from long‑term underinvestment.
International indices show New Zealand sits in the mid‑range on cost of living and high on quality of life.
The Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (Lawa) website is wonderfully brimming with information.
Want to know about water quality? Find it on the website. Checking for swimmability? Click here.
The site is currently covered in red dots, reflecting the recent rain:“The current prediction is that this site has a high health risk and is unlikely to meet national water quality guidelines for swimming.”
The general warning is: “Heavy rain flushes contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways, and we advise you not to swim for 2-3 days after heavy or prolonged rain – even at sites that generally have good water quality. Check that the water is clean and clear before taking a dip.”
This sensible warning is present whether the site is in a city, town, or rural area.
Heavy rain (and there has been a lot of that recently) washes the banks and floods the sewerage systems; the impact is felt on the receiving waters – the rivers, lakes and sea.
Of course, mechanical failure or “human error” can also cause problems.
The Wellington sewage problem occurred during heavy rain. An independent review will answer various questions, but the overall finding is likely to blame delayed spending on required infrastructure upgrades and replacements.
There have, after all, been many columns and interviews on New Zealand’s tendency to kick the funding can down the road.
Councillors standing on a platform of “no rate rise” and parliamentary candidates campaigning with “no tax increase” statements make the point.
Voters should be asking, What do we need? How can we pay for it?
Should I accept increased taxes and rates for the future good of my family, even though it means reduced discretionary expenditure?
The cost-of-living crisis then rears its ugly head (appearing top in any “concern” poll), with statements along the lines of “hard-working New Zealanders” can’t afford …
The reality, however, is that in the Global Cost-of-Living Index assessing 155 countries for “relative everyday costs and rent”, in which New York is rated 100, Bermuda scores 123.5 (very costly), and Libya scores 12.3 (very cheap).
New Zealand scores 45, placing it 36th.
Australia is more expensive, in 21st place, with an index of 52, just above the United Kingdom.
Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Adjunct Professor, Lincoln University, is a farmer-elected director of DairyNZ and Ravensdown. She is also a member of the Scientific Council of the World Farmers’ Organisation.
Overseas holidays give a false impression; they do not reveal the reality of commute times, rates, taxes, GST equivalent, and all the other little things like childcare subsidies, food banks and public health systems that are part of support here.
Also note that rivers and lakes overseas are subject to the same issues after rain as in New Zealand, and the same watches and alerts.
Other countries don’t, however, have as much fuss about “swimmability” because the water quality for swimming is measured only during the swimming season and not after heavy rain.
Farmers here cop a lot of flak about swimmability, are fined for farm effluent spills and pay many thousands for assessments of effluent storage and consents to spread effluent on land (where it supplies nutrients to plants).
Farmers aren’t allowed to claim a “cost-of-farming” crisis and delay infrastructure renewal.
They do their best to stay within regulations, keep up with the repairs and maintenance, and avoid human error.
External assessment suggests that they are among the most efficient farmers in the world.
Indices and comparisons are only as good as the data that are collected to create them, and the interpretation of the data to develop the story around them.
The data collection might be different in different countries, and the perspectives given by experience will certainly be different.
But we all need to understand that infrastructure costs money and that there is a limit on how far the can can be kicked down the road.
In some areas, including Wellington, that limit has been reached.
Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Adjunct Professor at Lincoln University, is a farmer-elected director of DairyNZ and Ravensdown. She is also a member of the Scientific Council of the World Farmers’ Organisation. jsrowarth@gmail.com
