Giving waterways groups a role in regional freshwater policy

ABSTRACT New Zealand’s new freshwater legislation prioritises the health of a water body above the needs of humans, thereby effectively recognising the intrinsic value of water. The prioritisation is nothing short of a paradigm shift. In this essay, I discuss the dichotomy of intrinsic and instrumental values in environmental management, and a change in mind set from the unidirectional exploitation of the environment to one of mitigation and restoration by all water users. Waterways groups, by actions of environmental advocacy, could play an increasingly important role in advising councils in freshwater policy, i.e. the benefits of a formalised relationship between councils and waterways groups include Kaitiakitanga and Stewardship by communities and recognition that healthy environments need active restoration management. Requiring waters users to mitigate their impacts on the freshwater ecosystem incentivises investment in natural capital if flexibility is provided for water users to mitigate at least cost.