National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014.

This National Policy, containing six Appendices, establishes the Freshwater management in New Zealand. Given the vital importance of freshwater resources to New Zealand and New Zealanders, and in order to achieve the purpose of the Resource Management Act 1991 (the Act), there is a particular need for clear central government policy to set a national direction, though the management of the resource needs to reflect the catchment-level variation and different demands on the resource across regions. Its Objectives are divided as follows: AA1 aims to consider and recognise Te Mana o te Wai in the management of fresh water. Policy AA1. By every regional council making or changing regional policy statements and plans to consider and recognise Te Mana o te Wai recognising the connection between water and the broader environment. By recognising Te Mana o te Wai as an integral part of the freshwater management framework it is intended that the health and well-being of freshwater bodies is at the forefront of all discussions and decisions about fresh water, including the identification of freshwater values and objectives, setting limits and the development of policies and rules. This is intended to ensure that water is available for the use and enjoyment of all New Zealanders, including tangata whenua, now and for future generations.
Water quality sector. Objective A1: To safeguard: a) the life-supporting capacity, ecosystem processes and indigenous species including their associated ecosystems, of fresh water; and b) the health of people and communities, as affected by contact with fresh water; in sustainably managing the use and development of land, and of discharges of contaminants. Objective A2: The overall quality of fresh water within a freshwater management unit is maintained or improved while: a) protecting the significant values of outstanding freshwater bodies; b) protecting the significant values of wetlands; and c) improving the quality of fresh water in water bodies that have been degraded by human activities to the point of being over-allocated. Objective A3: The quality of fresh water within a freshwater management unit is improved so it is suitable for primary contact more often, unless: a) regional targets established under Policy A6(b) have been achieved; or b) naturally occurring processes mean further improvement is not possible. Objective A4: To enable communities to provide for their economic well-being, including productive economic opportunities, in sustainably managing freshwater quality, within limits.
Water quantity sector. Objective B1: To safeguard the life-supporting capacity, ecosystem processes and indigenous species including their associated ecosystems of fresh water, in sustainably managing the taking, using, damming, or diverting of fresh water. Objective B2: To avoid any further over-allocation of fresh water and phase out existing over-allocation. Objective B3: To improve and maximise the efficient allocation and efficient use of water. Objective B4: To protect significant values of wetlands and of outstanding freshwater bodies. Objective B5: To enable communities to provide for their economic well-being, including productive economic opportunities, in sustainably managing fresh waterquantity, within limits.
C. Integrated management sector. Objective C1: To improve integrated management of fresh water and the use and development of land in whole catchments, including the interactions between fresh water, land, associated ecosystems and the coastal environment. CA. National Objectives Framework Objective CA1: To provide an approach to establish freshwater objectives for national values, and any other values. CB. Monitoring plans sector. Objective CB1: To provide for an approach to the monitoring of progress towards, and the achievement of, freshwater objectives and the values identified under Policy CA2(b).
CC. Accounting for freshwater takes and contaminants serctor. Objective CC1: To improve information on freshwater takes and sources of freshwater contaminants. D. Tangata whenua roles and interests sector. Objective D1: To provide for the involvement of iwi and hapū, and to ensure that tangata whenua values and interests are identified and reflected in the management of fresh water including associated ecosystems, and decision-making regarding freshwater planning, including on how all other objectives of this national policy statement are given effect to.
Appendices deal with the following matters. Appendix 1: National values and uses for fresh water; Appendix 2: Attribute tables; Appendix 3: Existing infrastructure for the purposes of Policy CA3(b) and Policy CB3(c); Appendix 4: Freshwater management units and periods of time for transition under Policy CA4; Appendix 5: Surveillance monitoring of E. coli at primary contact sites; Appendix 6: National target for water quality improvement.