4 JULY 2014 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 71 1993

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), the Crown recognises 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 between freshwater bodies and different demands on the resource across regions. This includes managing land use and development activities that affect fresh water so that growth is achieved with a lower environmental footprint.

This national policy statement sets out objectives and policies that direct local government to manage water in an integrated and sustainable way, while providing for economic growth within set water quantity and quality limits. The national policy statement is a first step to improve freshwater management at a national level.

As demand for fresh water increases, it is vital to account for all freshwater takes and sources of relevant contaminants. The freshwater accounting requirements of this national policy statement will provide information for councils to use in establishing freshwater objectives and limits and in targeting their management of fresh water.

This national policy statement provides a National Objectives Framework to assist regional councils and communities to more consistently and transparently plan for freshwater objectives. The national policy statement is intended to underpin community discussions about the desired state of fresh water relative to the current state. New Zealanders generally aspire to high standards for our waterways and outcomes that are better than those achieved under the status quo. Freshwater planning will require an iterative approach that tests a range of possible objectives and methods for their achievement, including different timeframes for achieving objectives. This is intended to ensure that the implications of proposed objectives are clear for councils and communities.

The national policy statement sets national bottom lines for two compulsory values – ecosystem health and human health for recreation – and minimum acceptable states for other national values. The national policy statement acknowledges iwi and community values by recognising the range of iwi and community interests in fresh water, including environmental, social, economic and cultural values.

Freshwater objectives for a range of tāngata whenua values are intended to recognise Te Mana o te Wai. Iwi and hapū have a kinship relationship with the natural environment, including fresh water, through shared whakapapa. Iwi and hapū recognise the importance of fresh water in supporting a healthy ecosystem, including human health, and have a reciprocal obligation as kaitiaki to protect freshwater quality.

Overall freshwater quality within a region must be maintained or improved. This national policy statement allows some variability in terms of freshwater quality, including between freshwater management units, as long as the overall freshwater quality is maintained within a region.

National bottom lines in the national policy statement are not standards that must be achieved immediately. Where freshwater management units are below national bottom lines, they will need to be improved to at least the national bottom lines over time. It is up to communities and iwi to determine the pathway and timeframe for ensuring freshwater management units meet the national bottom lines. Where changes in community behaviours are required, adjustment timeframes should be decided based on the economic effects that result from the speed of change. Improvements in