Waterbodies and wetlands overview

Your farm’s waterbodies and wetlands are interconnected. Adopting an 'ecosystem health' perspective is crucial for achieving positive outcomes for them.

A number of elements on farms contribute to waterbody and wetland health. The aspects explored in these pages include fencing, fish passage, riparian planting, wetlands and water quality.

Values and uses of water

In New Zealand, water values typically include:

• Ecosystem health and biodiversity.
• Cultural values, including Mahinga kai (food gathering).
• Recreational values including primary contact (swimming, water skiing, kayaking) and secondary contact (fishing, tramping).
• Amenity values such as landscape and scenic values.
• Health values, including stock and human drinking water.
• Economic values such as irrigation water and hydro power generation.

Not every water body has the same values. A farm drain, which we value for its ability to remove water, does not have the same value as Lake Tekapo, which we value for its ability to generate hydroelectricity and provide scenic views.

However, even farm drains have values and characteristics around drainage, biodiversity, and mahinga kai that can be threatened by inappropriate land management.

Regulatory requirements and futureproofing

Some protection measures for waterbodies and wetlands are already regulatory requirements, such as stock exclusion and the N Cap. Meeting these requirements is a legal obligation; however, moving beyond current regulation by enhancing and protecting these areas improves environmental outcomes, future-proofs your farm against future regulatory changes, and enhances its overall value.

Water quality

Water quality is a description of the condition of the water. It includes measurements using proven scientific methods, or physical, chemical, and biological parameters.

There is no single definition for what is 'good' or 'bad' in terms of water quality. To determine what is good or bad, we need to consider:

• What are the parameters of water quality?
• What is the water used or valued for?
• When setting water quality limits, both parameters and values are considered.

Catchment based approach

Adopting a catchment-based approach is essential for driving real change in water quality and environmental improvements. For more information, check out DairyNZ's catchment group support page.

Waterway and wetlands health extends beyond measuring containment loads. Using an ‘ecosystem health’ lens, which refers to the overall condition and resilience of an ecosystem, including its biodiversity, along with tools like eDNA, provides a more holistic understanding of the ecosystem's health.

These pages offer insights into various ways to protect and improve water bodies and wetlands.

Explore how DairyNZ and farmers are working towards better water quality and environmental outcomes with research projects and regional projects.

Water quality limits

Water quality limits take into account both the values or use of the water and the parameters required for the values to occur.

A water quality limit is then set at a “point” (or number) that balances agreed community values with the significance of the impact on the values.

Te Mana o te Wai

The concept of Te Mana o te Wai reflects the recognition of freshwater as a natural resource whose health is integral to social, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing. This will inform future policy development and regional freshwater planning.

Te Mana o te Wai is about a hierarchy of obligations:

1. The first obligation is to protect the health and mauri of the water.
2. The second obligation is to provide for essential human health needs, such as drinking water.
3. The third obligation is to enable other consumptive use, provided that such use does not adversely impact the mauri of freshwater.

Te Mana o te Wai prioritises these principles:

1. The dual roles of iwi/hapū and the Crown to develop and maintain decision-making processes for water, including mana whakahaere.
2. Kaitiakitanga and stewardship practices to sustain water, and
3. Manaakitanga, and care, and respect in providing for the health of our nation.