{"id":68497,"date":"2025-02-20T13:25:43","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T00:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?page_id=68497"},"modified":"2026-04-16T10:21:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T22:21:49","slug":"water-pollution","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/explore\/water-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Water pollution in Aotearoa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Water pollution in Aotearoa<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Water pollution in New Zealand is a growing problem. Two thirds of rivers are too polluted to swim in and once-safe drinking water is increasingly contaminated with harmful nitrate. We must protect fresh water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Take action<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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A fresh water crisis<\/h2>\n\n

Water pollution in Aotearoa is a massive threat to our health and the health of the environment – and you should be concerned.<\/p>\n\n

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Everyone, no matter where they live, should have access to clean, safe drinking water. This is a fundamental human right. But across New Zealand, drinking water is increasingly contaminated with harmful nitrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, Environment Canterbury declared a nitrate emergency<\/a> and in the last few years, multiple Do Not Drink notices have been issued due to excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lakes and rivers are under threat too. Lakes are choked with toxic algae, fish species are dying, and two thirds of rivers are too polluted to swim in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPETITION: Stop dairy expansion!\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Call on the NZ Parliament to end dairy expansions now to protect public health and fresh water.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t \n Add your name\n <\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\n

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Why is the water in New Zealand so polluted?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Everyone in New Zealand should be able to safely drink water from the kitchen tap, or swim in lakes and rivers. But pollution from intensive dairy is putting fresh water at risk in two major ways:<\/p>\n\n