National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 is based on the “Te Mana o te Wai” concept of restoring and preserving the balance between the water, the wider environment, and the community. National Policy Statement’s objective follow the hierarchy of obligations of the “Te Mana o te Wai” concept that is to ensure that natural and physical resources are managed in a way that prioritises: (a) first, the health and well-being of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems (b) second, the health needs of people (such as drinking water) (c) third, the ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being, now and in the future. Moreover, “Te Mana o te Wai” as a fundamental concept, goes beyond the specific aspects of freshwater management referred to in this National Policy Statement and is relevant to all freshwater management issues (Part 2).
The National Policy Statement, under Part 2, lists 15 policy priorities. Policy 1: Freshwater is managed in a way that gives effect to Te Mana o te Wai. Policy 2: Tangata whenua are actively involved in freshwater management (including decision-making processes), and Māori freshwater values are identified and provided for. Policy 3: Freshwater is managed in an integrated way that considers the effects of the use and development of land on a whole-of-catchment basis, including the effects on receiving environments. Policy 4: Freshwater is managed as part of New Zealand’s integrated response to climate change. Policy 5: Freshwater is managed through a National Objectives Framework to ensure that the health and well-being of degraded water bodies and freshwater ecosystems is improved, and the health and well-being of all other water bodies and freshwater ecosystems is maintained and (if communities choose) improved. Policy 6: There is no further loss of extent of natural inland wetlands, their values are protected, and their restoration is promoted. Policy 7: The loss of river extent and values is avoided to the extent practicable. Policy 8: The significant values of outstanding water bodies are protected. Policy 9: The habitats of indigenous freshwater species are protected. Policy 10: The habitat of trout and salmon is protected, insofar as this is consistent with Policy 9. Policy 11: Freshwater is allocated and used efficiently, all existing over-allocation is phased out, and future over-allocation is avoided. Policy 12: The national target (as set out in Appendix 3) for water quality improvement is achieved. Policy 13: The condition of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems is systematically monitored over time, and action is taken where freshwater is degraded, and to reverse deteriorating trends. Policy 14: Information (including monitoring data) about the state of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems, and the challenges to their health and well-being, is regularly reported on and published. Policy 15: Communities are enabled to provide for their social, economic, and cultural wellbeing in a way that is consistent with this National Policy Statement.
Part 3 sets out a non-exhaustive list of things that local authorities must do to give effect to the objective and policies in Part 2 and emphasises that the National Policy Statement does not limit the general obligation established under the Resource Management Act 1991. In this Part: (a) subpart 1 sets out how local authorities must implement this National Policy Statement, particularly in relation to giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai; (b) subpart 2 sets out the National Objectives Framework for managing freshwater; (c) subpart 3 set out additional requirements on regional councils relating to freshwater management.