Rivers
Bringing the river into the lab
In the Water Engineering Laboratory at the University of Auckland, engineers are recreating rivers, to understand how water flows, and how floods behave. Audio
Cows blamed for closure of popular swimming holes
Dairy cows have been blamed for the high E. coli levels which have forced the closure of popular Patea River swimming holes in Stratford for more than a month. Video, Audio
Call for fishing guides to be licensed
Fishing guides say it is only a matter of time before somebody is injured or killed on a fishing trip organised by a cowboy operator. Audio
Toxic algae bloom forces swimmers out of Hutt River
Wellington swimmers are being warned to stay out of the Hutt River as the warm weather causes toxic algae to bloom. Audio
Four Canterbury swimming spots now unswimmable
Four popular swimming spots in Canterbury have now been declared unswimmable due to poor water quality. Logan Church reports. Video, Audio
Sensing water quality
Over the past decade water quality and the health of our streams, lakes and rivers has become a major deal for many New Zealanders, and as the recent election campaign showed it's become a political… Audio
Ecologist Mike Joy: cleaning up our waterways
With a growing number of our lakes and rivers unsafe for swimming - and some beaches too, eco-warrior Dr Mike Joy is determined to get more people behind cleaning up our waterways. Audio
Dairy NZ fronts up
Dairy NZ head Dr Tim Mackle says he's happy to talk to environmental groups about cleaning up waterways, but blanket calls for fewer cows or an end to irrigation aren't the way to go. Audio
The quality of our waterways
Yesterday we discussed the lost rivers of Otago, today Ronlyn Duncan from Lincoln Univeristy is here to answer your questions about the quality of the country's waterways. Audio
Dairy cows not the only problem for rivers - farmers
A call to make New Zealand's rivers more swimmable by reducing the number of dairy cows has been dismissed as 'not that simple' by the Farming Leaders group. Audio
Nothing in new freshwater push deals with nitrate - ecology expert
A new push to clean up New Zealand's waterways is being criticised for failing to address the problem of nitrate seeping off farms into rivers. RNZ science reporter Jacob McSweeny has the details. Audio
Brighter future?: A tale of two rivers captures water quality debate
Between 2010 and 2015, the proportion of rivers safe to swim in in Canterbury fell from 74% to 67%. Conan Young took the pulse of two South Island rivers. Video, Audio
Ministry "struggling" to explain water standards
The Environment Minister might've sold the Government's new water standards to make 90% of all rivers swimmable by 2040 to fellow MPs, but it appears the details are still as murky for ministry… Audio
Canaries of the Waterways
Caddisflies, mayflies and stoneflies are considered 'canaries of the waterways' as they thrive when water quality is good and the first to disappear when it isn't. Audio
Water campaigner on export decision: 'It's just plainly not fair'
A water rights campaigner is devastated by the news that a major West Coast water export project has been approved.
Time for radical approaches to protect our environment?
Anthropologist Professor Dame Anne Salmond explores new frameworks for protecting New Zealand's rivers and the rights of all of us to enjoy them. Meanwhile environmental law expert at the University… Audio
Govt forced to extend swimmable waterways deadline
The government will give scientists extra time to respond to its proposed 'swimmability' standards after it failed to provide them with evidence the new standards will be tougher.
River campaigner challenges effluent rules
Northland's river campaigner Millan Ruka is challenging the Northland Regional Council over the way it measures the effect of dairy effluent draining into rivers, as Lois Williams reports. Audio
Maori grannies call for conservation orders over rivers
Environmental groups are backing the call by a group of Maori grandmothers for conservation orders over more than three dozen South Island rivers. Audio