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Does the Minister consider nitrate pollution in Canterbury to be a priority issue for the South Island, as illustrated by the "Risk maps of nitrate in groundwater" published by Environment Canterbury that show large areas of Canterbury as having a "moderate" or "high" risk of "nitrate concentrations exceeding the MAV [maximum acceptable value for drinking water]?

Answered Question 36510 (2026)
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Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • Does the Minister consider nitrate pollution in Canterbury to be a priority issue for the South Island, as illustrated by the "Risk maps of nitrate in groundwater" published by Environment Canterbury that show large areas of Canterbury as having a "moderate" or "high" risk of "nitrate concentrations exceeding the MAV [maximum acceptable value for drinking water]?

Answered by

Hon James Meager

Member for Rangitata · National Party · Minister for the South Island

Answer

Issues relating to the management of freshwater quality, including nitrogen contamination in groundwater, are primarily matters for the Minister for the Environment. Programmes like Managed Aquifer Recharge are worth supporting and should be allowed to proceed.