The Government has released a discussion document on a national direction for essential freshwater.
Action for healthy waterways sets out proposals to stop the degradation of waterways and restore them to a healthy state.
It seeks feedback on a new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, National Environmental Standards for Freshwater, Sources of Drinking Water, and Wastewater, and regulations under Section 360 of the Resource Management Act 1991 in relation to stock exclusion and water metering.
The proposals in the document have have been developed with a view to upholding Te Mana o te Wai.
A foreword by the Ministers for the Environment, of Agriculture and of Local Government says that alongside the Essential Freshwater programme, the Government is also undertaking the Three Waters Review of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services.
"This work is intended to ensure New Zealanders can be confident that drinking water is safe to use, sources of drinking water are adequately protected, and wastewater and stormwater are managed in environmentally sustainable ways.
"Regulatory change developed within the Three Waters Review will be progressed through a number of avenues, and some proposals have been included in this document because they need to complement the Essential Freshwater reforms. We are seeking feedback on these proposals."
Public consultation on the proposals in the document is now open, with the time for submissions closing at 5pm on Thursday, 17 October 2019.