Further to all the other concerns from individuals such as “The Great Water Rout” – see TRM Daily Report for 30 January – at long last BIG business is now getting concerned.  It is not only fresh water anglers and other recreational water users who are upset about the abuse of water…  Now that NZ’s biggest industry – “Tourism” interests – are very concerned, perhaps the politicians will have to take more notice of the recent issues on water pollution and abuse.  (Photos of cattle polluting the Tongariro and Wanganui Rivers are from TRM library)

Tourism industry wants strong protection for our waterway

The Tourism Export Council says New Zealand waterways are again suffering abuse at the hands of weak legislation.

Mentioning several incidents highlighted in the news media recently, council CEO, Lesley Immink, said: “For the tourism industry, our international marketability – and ultimately our economy – this is a disaster.

“A significant motivation for visitors choosing destination New Zealand is our clean and green image and TECNZ want to ensure that reputation lasts for generations to come.

“We believe water quality to be the single greatest challenge to maintaining New Zealand’s environmental promise. Waterways around New Zealand are being sucked dry and polluted on an unprecedented level.”

It is time the government and Minister for Tourism, John Key, recognised the value clean water has for the industry and New Zealanders, she said.

The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) is supporting the Choose Clean Water Tour which is visiting lakes and rivers around the country to document through short films, how the continuing pollution of waterways is affecting local people and the environment.

The tour is being run by four young campaigners who wanted to assemble stories about the degradation and loss of New Zealand’s freshwater environments.

Ms Immink says the campaign has received “immense support nationwide with over 50,000 views of the short films and over 5000 signatures on a petition calling for stronger freshwater protection.”

“Since the images and subsequent articles were released, there has been a flurry of support for the campaign with environmental and nature groups stepping up to share their distain at repeated behaviour by some landowners and calling for stronger penalties and consequences for those that do offend,” she said.

Freshwater experts have recently challenged the tourism industry to stand up and do more to protect the environment.

TEC says candid illustrations about the state of our fresh waterways by New Zealand’s leading freshwater scientists has shocked tourism operators.