Speech at Land and Water Forum Report launch

Good afternoon distinguished guests, parliamentary colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

My job is to wrap up this very significant meeting. The size of the task before us is emphasised by the very people gathered here today - you are some of the most influential people who work with Government.

Improving fresh water management is a top environmental and economic priority for this Government.

Today as we welcome the Land and Water Forum Report, I want to thank all of you who have taken part in this important process.

It was an act of faith by Government to allow such diverse groups to develop policy ideas in such a sensitive and contentious area.

But Land and Water Forum members can take a bow.

People that often disagree on water management have successfully worked together and consensus has been reached. This is evidenced by the fact that Lachlan McKenzie from Federated Farmers and Gary Taylor from the Environmental Defence Society sit side by side on the podium.

As I met with LAWF members intermittently over the past year, I took every opportunity to remind them of the huge responsibility assumed.

This challenge was accepted in good faith and 12 months later Government has ended up with a substantive and constructive report.

I want to specifically thank you, Alastair Bisley as chair. I have enjoyed working with you and there is no doubt you've been key to the success of this project.

The report provides Government with some challenges. It is one part of a larger programme of work that we are undertaking to improve how fresh water is managed.

It must be emphatically linked to this Government's growth agenda.

In the agricultural sector, fresh water management is the biggest opportunity we have to increase economic growth.

Water is New Zealand's liquid gold. It is our greatest competitive advantage because we have an abundance of it.

But as I've said many times before, it will not be irrigation at all costs.

Our fresh water must be managed carefully and responsibly.

That is why whenever I talk about removing regulatory roadblocks to water storage and irrigation, I stress we must also maintain high environmental standards.

Certainly this Government understands that fresh water management is equally about reliable irrigation and water quality standards.

As exporters of high quality produce, our international markets keep a keen eye on how we produce our food.

The three main requirements are: food safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.

No farmer, no food producer, in fact no New Zealander can afford to disregard the environmental component of our brand.

Ignore the environmental impacts of our food production systems and we will very quickly compromise NZ Inc.

This Government believes there is a middle road to fresh water management, and that solutions that deliver benefits to everyone can be found.

Now as the LAWF group takes its recommendations around the country the challenge is to widen the debate and engage with all interested New Zealanders.

After a decade of inaction on fresh water management, it is encouraging to see so much progress after just 12 months.

We must now move fresh water management forward.

It won't be easy - indeed it may be one of the most complex challenges this Government faces.

But LAWF has given us the vital first step.

Again I congratulate you all for your hard work and collaboration.

Thank you.