Does the Minister accept that the main impacts of polluted drinking water are human health impacts, and if so, why was the Minister of Health not "consulted" on National Direction decisions for the 'National Environmental Standards for sources of human drinking water (NES-DW)', as noted in Appendix 3 of the 26 June 2024 'Cabinet Economic Policy Committee Minute of Decision: Resource Management Reform Phase 2 National direction'?

Answer

Yes, impacts on human health are central to management of drinking water. After the June 2024 Cabinet paper, Ministry for the Environment officials advised me that managing source-water pollution risk is better progressed through the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) and National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-F), rather than National Environmental Standards for Sources of Human Drinking Water (NES-DW). This work has progressed outside the Phase 2 National Direction programme. The Government has since consulted on proposals to require mapping of source water risk management areas. Further information is available on the Ministry's website at: https://consult.environment.govt.nz/resource-management/freshwater-national-direction/