Freshwater forever: Helping support decisions for better water quality in New Zealand
Everyone needs safe clean water – for drinking, washing, growing food, and having fun.
It is a resource in high demand, and can become unsafe and unclean if not managed well. Through our Freshwater Values, Monitoring and Outcomes (VMO) Research Programme, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research and partners developed valuable tools for national and regional government to care for their communities’ freshwater resources.
One example is the recent report written for the Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Ministry for the Environment. To evaluate the Whaitua collaborative modelling process with iwi, identify how to incorporate iwi/hapū values in modelling, and support the freshwater limit setting process, we documented learnings from the Ruamāhanga catchment to guide communities, industry, scientists, government, and local councils in achieving desirable freshwater objectives and outcomes. By developing relevant design management criteria, we can assess how regional policy and catchment management options can best support iwi/hapū and community values.