Election 2026: Green Party releases drinking water, oceans and rivers policy

Davidson said it was “madness” that up to 100,000 people a year were getting sick from unsafe drinking water, that popular beaches were closed in summer and “once common fish like our iconic tarakihi populations have been fished to the brink of collapse”.

“The Green Party’s policy package will reverse the widespread degradation of our environment, and protect human and ecological health from corporate greed.”

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has announced a policy that would phase out synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. Photo / Jason Dorday.

Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said when the Government fails to protect the environment, “we all pay the price in clean-up costs, in our people and animals getting sick, let alone the impact on our economy”.

“There is no economy without the environment. Safe drinking water, a swim at the local beach, and catching some snapper on the weekend should not be too much to ask in this beautiful country.

“The recent outpouring of love for both public conservation land and our fish – against Luxon’s Government’s plans – have only reaffirmed that New Zealanders want environmental health prioritised over commercial profits. It’s in our nature.”

Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, with MPs Ricardo Menéndez March (left) and Teanau Tuiono, in 2024. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Last month, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced that some of the more controversial components of the Government’s Conservation Act reforms that would allow land to be disposed of or exchanged would be removed.

This came after strong criticism from environmental groups who feared it could lead to the large-scale sales of prime conservation land. Potaka said that was never the intention, but acknowledged that was the impression many New Zealanders had been left with, and perhaps the Government was not clear enough.

In March, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones agreed to remove a clause in an amendment bill which would have scrapped almost all minimum legal-size limits for commercial fishing operators.

The party’s “Drink, Swim, Fish” includes:

Set strong, science-based national standards for fresh water that protect both the health of our communities and the health of our rivers, lakes and aquifers, including by lowering the nitrate limit for drinking water. Strengthen rules for wastewater discharges to ensure our rivers, lakes and moana are swimmable. Empower the drinking water regulator to monitor, report on and enforce protections for drinking water sources. Phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and take action to reduce stocking rates on a catchment basis to improve the health of rivers and drinking water quality.Protect at least 30% of New Zealand’s moana to restore marine ecosystems and support abundant fisheries by reforming marine-protected area legislation to ensure it is fit-for-purpose, Tiriti consistent, and tikanga-led. Support kaitiakitanga Māori in marine management and iwi- and hapū-led conservation and restoration initiatives. Phase out destructive fishing methods, including bottom trawling on seamounts, set netting and dredging. Review the Quota Management System and move towards ecosystem-based fisheries management that prioritises abundance and long-term sustainability.

The National Party’s agriculture spokesman Todd McClay said the Greens’ policy combined with Labour’s plans reignited a “war on farmers”.

With the policy referring to phasing out nitrogen fertilisers and reducing stocking rates on a catchment basis, National said it was a plan to “cull cows”.

On this, Davidson said New Zealand had polluted rivers and dangerous levels of nitrates in drinking water sources, often because of too many cows.

“The Green Party will set clear policy direction for councils to reduce stocking rates in over-stocked catchments to levels that will allow for the restoration of water quality.”

McClay said this “would wreck New Zealand’s economy by reigniting its war on farmers”.

“Farmers are the backbone of our economy. The food and fibre sector is forecast to achieve $64 billion in exports this year. That supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and helps pay for the public services Kiwis rely on,” he said.

“The more our farmers produce and sell to the world, the more jobs they create at home. Those incomes pay for groceries and mortgages and get spent in local cafes and shops.”

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.