Federated Farmers challenges claims about Manawatu River
Thursday 15 April 2010, 3:16PM
By Federated Farmers of New Zealand
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Federated Farmers is challenging Massey's Dr Mike Joy and the Cawthron Institute to name the other 299 rivers on a list, where it is claimed the Manawatu is among the worst in the world.
"Federated Farmers has contacted the Cawthron Institute several times requesting the list of the '300 rivers' but we've not had a reply," says Lachlan McKenzie, Federated Farmers water spokesperson.
"Since Dr Joy obviously has that list we really want to know what the Manawatu is being compared with. Disclosing the list would surely lead to more informed debate.
"Some people seem to be accepting the claim about the state of the Manawatu River without any scrutiny. It doesn't do the credibility of Dr Joy or the Cawthron Institute any good, if they don't provide us with the point of comparison.
"Is the Ohio River, the King River, the Thames or the Seine on that list? I mean there are 3000 rivers in streams in New Zealand while the United States has about a quarter of a million.
"300 doesn't seem a large number, especially if it is comparing largely unmodified rivers with the Manawatu.
“Dr Joy’s latest claim that the reason Horizons Regional Council has made some changes to water management rules around nitrate loss is because it has been influenced by the sacking of Environment Canterbury is nonsense.
"Horizons had made assumptions about farming then tried to make the science fit what they thought farming was.
"The independent Commissioners hearing Horizons One Plan have listened to facts and logic. The commissioners I stress are independent.
"We won't crack water until everyone realises that they have an equal role to play. It's time for the media and commentators to come on-farm to see what we actually do. I think they‘ll be amazed.
"The hearings commissioners on One Plan accepted Federated Farmers arguments and those of Fonterra, because they were based on sound facts. Federated Farmers own Dr Tessa Mills was part of a technical work programme that has done a truckload of work to prove and disprove Horizons assumptions.
"So instead of sensational claims and trying to apportion blame, the future is about farmers working with townies to make a real difference.
"That's why Federated Farmers is on the Land and Water forum. We want to be part of a solution that enables farmers to expand and grow profitably," Mr McKenzie concluded.