Brian Barton
New Zealand has a global reputation as an unspoiled wilderness and a pristine environmental destination. However, the country is facing a significant pollution problem, with its waterways and wetlands under threat. About 60% of New Zealand's waterways are unswimmable, and up to 95% of rivers in rural areas are contaminated by pollutants, effluent, or excess nutrients. The country's dairy industry, one of its most lucrative exports, is a major contributor to water and climate pollution. Agriculture is responsible for half of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, and dairy cow urine and fertiliser runoff are polluting rivers and lakes. The government has recognised the urgent need to address these issues and has introduced controversial measures such as the 'burp tax' to charge farmers for their animals' emissions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global rank in air pollution | 129/138 |
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | 36 (Good) |
| Air Pollution Level | Moderate |
| Particulate Matter (PM) | PM2.5 (7µg/m³), PM10 (13µg/m³) |
| Gas Pollutants | Sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), benzene |
| Highest number of premature deaths due to air pollution | Auckland City (939 deaths), Christchurch City (462 deaths) |
| Increase in deaths from human-made air pollution (2006-2016) | 3,005 to 3,317 |
| Percentage of population living in areas with high NO2 levels (2016) | 31.4% (23.1% for Māori, 54.5% for Pacific peoples) |
| Annual average PM2.5 exceeding WHO 2021 guideline level (2016) | 81.0% (77.6% for Māori, 94.4% for Pacific peoples) |
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What You'll Learn
New Zealand's dairy industry is a major contributor to water pollution
The dairy industry has been associated with contaminating drinking water across the country. Regions like Canterbury, Southland, and Waikato are at risk of this pollution. In 2023, Land and Water Aotearoa (LAWA) found that none of the monitored shallow lakes in New Zealand were in very good condition. This was confirmed by additional research in 2024, which found that two-thirds of monitored rivers and streams suffer from impaired ecological health.
The dairy industry's pollution is caused by an increase in the number of cows, as well as the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. This has led to nitrate pollution in rivers and groundwater. In 2021, it was reported that the amount of nitrogen applied to the land had increased by 629% since 1990. This has resulted in excessive nutrients in the water, causing regular algal blooms.
The government has attempted to address this issue. In 2020, a government report showed that 60% of the country's rivers were unsafe for swimming. The following year, the Ardern government enacted the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, promising to fix the country's water issues within a generation. However, these reforms have faced criticism from scientists and dairy farmers.
The dairy industry has also pushed back against these efforts. Since the 2023 elections, the industry has influenced environmental policy, rewriting rules to avoid accountability for pollution. Federated Farmers, DairyNZ, and Beef+Lamb New Zealand have successfully lobbied for changes to environmental legislation. As a result, protections for freshwater have been weakened, and the industry's pollution continues to threaten the country's waterways and climate.
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The country's wetlands are irreversibly damaged
New Zealand's waterways are facing a pollution crisis. The country's dairy industry, one of its most lucrative exports, is a major contributor to this issue. The Canterbury region, in particular, has seen an explosion of dairy farming and large-scale irrigation since the late 1980s, polluting many rivers. The Selwyn River, for instance, experiences regular algal blooms due to excessive nutrients, including nitrates, from dairy farms.
The situation is similar in the Waikato region, New Zealand's dairy powerhouse, where Lake Waikare is ranked as one of the most polluted lakes in the world. The lake is highly polluted by nutrients from agricultural runoff, with little surrounding vegetation to filter out these nutrients. The pollution has had devastating effects on the local wildlife, with thousands of birds dying at the Whangamarino wetland due to a botulism outbreak caused by mass fish deaths.
David Klee, a local game bird manager, describes the grim reality of witnessing birds struggling to stay afloat, their legs and wings weakened by poison. Corina Jordan, Fish & Game's chief executive, attributes this ecological disaster to long-term systemic failures in freshwater policies and a lack of implementation, resulting in severe degradation of freshwater ecosystems.
The New Zealand government has faced increasing pressure to address the country's water woes. In the October 2022 election, the health of New Zealand's rivers was a key issue. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government enacted the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, promising improvements within five years. However, these reforms have faced criticism from scientists and dairy farmers.
While the government strives to balance economic interests with environmental protection, the reality is that some wetlands and waterways may have already passed their tipping points, facing irreversible damage. It serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between human activities and the health of our planet.
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High levels of air pollution cause health issues
New Zealand is known for its pristine and dramatic landscapes, which have served as the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters. However, the country's waterways are facing significant pollution problems, largely due to the dairy industry and intensive synthetic fertiliser use. While New Zealand's air quality ranks relatively well globally, air pollution still poses serious health risks to its residents.
Air pollution is linked to a range of health issues, from respiratory and cardiovascular problems to mental health concerns. Fine particulate matter, such as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing irritation and inflammation and damaging the lining of the respiratory tract. These particles can also enter the bloodstream, affecting all major organs and increasing the risk of heart and respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and strokes. Ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide are particularly harmful components of air pollution, contributing to asthma and reduced lung function.
Pregnant women exposed to air pollution face additional risks, as it can raise toxic chemical levels in the blood, stressing the immune system and potentially leading to preterm births or low birth weight. Children are also vulnerable, with air pollution impacting their brain development and increasing the risk of respiratory infections, the second leading cause of death for children under five globally.
The sources of air pollution vary, with ambient air pollution stemming from the combustion of fossil fuels and vehicle emissions, and household air pollution caused by open fires and inefficient stoves, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Wildfires also contribute to air pollution, affecting regional air quality and causing eye and respiratory tract irritation, reduced lung function, and other serious health issues.
Protecting vulnerable populations from the health impacts of air pollution is crucial. This includes children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing heart and lung disease, who may be more susceptible to the detrimental effects of poor air quality. Understanding the factors that influence health risks, such as proximity to industrial sources and socioeconomic factors, is essential for developing effective interventions and policies to safeguard public health.
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The government is taking steps to improve water quality
New Zealand's waterways are facing a pollution crisis, with the country's rivers, lakes and wetlands suffering from the effects of dairy farming and large-scale irrigation. The health of these waterways was a key issue in the October 2020 election, with the Ardern government enacting the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and promising improvements to the health of rivers and lakes within five years.
Despite this, the government has been criticised for not doing enough to address the issue, with some claiming that they are ignoring expert advice. However, there are signs that the government is taking steps to improve water quality. For example, the Environment Minister, David Parker, has promised a noticeable improvement in water quality within five years, with a focus on at-risk catchments. The government has also released a NZ$700 million package to address freshwater pollution, which includes higher standards for cleanliness of swimming spots, controls on some farming practices and the use of synthetic fertilisers, and mandatory farm environment plans.
In addition, the government is working with the primary sector and regional councils in at-risk catchments to improve farming practices, and has announced a new National Environmental Standard for Freshwater Management by 2020 to regulate activities that put water quality at risk. They are also amending the Resource Management Act within the next 12 months to review consents and strengthen enforcement tools for improving environmental compliance.
While there is still a long way to go, these steps demonstrate that the New Zealand government is taking action to improve water quality and protect the country's waterways for future generations.
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The burp tax is an attempt to reduce emissions
New Zealand is known for its pristine and dramatic landscapes, which have served as the backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters and attracted tourists from around the world. However, behind this clean, green image lies a different reality. The health of the country's rivers was a key issue in the October 2021 election, with scientists blaming dairy farming and large-scale irrigation for polluting many of the region's rivers.
To address these environmental concerns, the New Zealand government proposed a unique approach: a "burp tax". This tax specifically targeted the burps of cows and sheep, aiming to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, particularly methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a significantly more damaging impact on the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, with methane from livestock being estimated to contribute about one-third of global anthropogenic methane emissions.
The proposed "burp tax" was intended to incentivize farmers to cut methane emissions. The then-Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, argued that the tax was necessary to slow global warming and that farmers could recoup the costs by charging more for climate-friendly meat. New Zealand is a major agricultural exporter, and the country's estimated 10 million cows and 26 million sheep contribute significantly to its greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the "burp tax" faced opposition from farmers, who were concerned about the potential impact on their livelihoods. As a result, the centre-right coalition government decided to scrap the tax, instead choosing to exclude agriculture from the country's emissions trading scheme and focus on exploring other ways to reduce methane emissions. The government pledged to invest NZ$400 million in emissions-reduction technology commercialization and increase funding for the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.
While the "burp tax" may not have come to fruition, it represented an innovative attempt by the New Zealand government to address the country's pollution problem and work towards its goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
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Frequently asked questions
New Zealand has some of the most polluted water in the developed world. The government has found that 45% of the country's rivers are unswimmable, and up to 95% of rivers in rural areas are contaminated.
Dairy farming is a major contributor to water pollution in New Zealand. Dairy cow urine and the runoff from synthetic fertilisers used to cultivate year-round grass are polluting the waterways.
The government has approved a "burp tax", which will charge farmers for their animals' emissions, and is funding scientific advancements to lower pollution, such as trials of genetically engineered grasses that lead to lower methane emissions in animals.
Air pollution in New Zealand has been linked to an increase in hospitalisations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including childhood asthma, and premature deaths. Water pollution has also been linked to high rates of bowel cancer in the country.
