Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) welcomes the release of the report and recommendations of the Land and Water Forum. 

Stephen Woodhead, Chair of LGNZ’s Regional Sector Group, a participant in the Forum, says the Forum continues to contribute to the development of policy related to the management of freshwater in New Zealand.  One of the key tasks the Forum was charged with was to provide advice on how to maximise the economic benefit of water.”

“Working with the different sectors and interests in a collaborative way is particularly challenging and the Forum has provided useful recommendations to advance the development of water policy,” says Mr Woodhead.

“Regional and unitary councils, with our communities, are investing heavily in setting limits across regions to manage water quality and the work of the Forum supports this and reinforces the direction the councils are taking.”

Many councils are using collaborative processes to develop their water plans and it is pleasing the new Bill to amend the Resource Management Act supports these processes. 

“In order to get enduring decisions, the key decisions about water management must be made at a local level and the Forum’s recommendations support this,” says Mr Woodhead.