Water Quality
Big award for studying small lake critters
The 2017 Marsden Medal is awarded to Carolyn Burns for her internationally renowned research into New Zealand's deep southern lakes. Audio
Touchstone - a community project for Lake Wanaka
Lake swimmers, the local primary school and neighbouring farmers have joined together to look after water quality in Lake Wanaka. Audio
Weekend wet helps Westport's water woes
Weekend rain has boosted Westport's water supply, but the district's mayor says the town is not yet out of the woods.
Unfenced streams major source of water contamination
Streams less than a metre wide and 30cm deep in flat pasture accounts for 77 percent of contamination in rivers, new research shows.
Conserve water warning for Hauraki Plains
Households in the Hauraki Plains have been asked to conserve water following a problem at a treatment plant.
West Coast water restrictions 'now less serious'
Water restrictions in Westport and Carters Beach are set to ease.
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
Council boss ignores pleas to turn protester's water on
A district council chief executive is keeping the water to a Māori land protester turned off despite health officials telling him it's illegal.
Gastric illness outbreak cost $21m
The Ministry of Health has found Havelock North's water contamination cost about $21 million - with residents the worst affected. Audio
NZ First won't support water tax policies - Peters
New Zealand First will not support National or Labour's policies to impose new taxes on farmers or include agriculture in the Emissions Trading Scheme, Winston Peters says.
Your big election listens from RNZ Insight
A selection of Insight podcasts investigating the big issues this election. Audio
Water quality protesters occupy ECan offices
About 100 people stormed the Canterbury Regional Council offices today to protest the state of the region's waterways.
Labour's water tax policy uppermost in voters' minds
Labour's water tax policy is giving National and other parties something solid to fight as they try to blunt Labour's rapid resurgence. Video
Auckland Council prepares major plan to tackle water quality
A major water quality plan - which could include new charges and an acceleration of some major projects - is being worked on by the Auckland Council.
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
Farmers pledge to improve water - but how?
Seven groups including Fonterra, Dairy NZ and Federated Farmers say they want New Zealand's rivers to be `swimmable' for the next generations. Environmental and recreational groups cautiously welcomed… 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
Farmers' groups make swimmable water vow
Seven farming leaders have pledged to make New Zealand's rivers swimmable for the next generations, saying it is the right thing to do.
Heavy metals flowing into Sydney water - study
Millions of litres of highly toxic water is escaping from a derelict coal mine into Sydney's drinking water catchment, new scientific research shows.
Dunedin boil water notice lifted
Dunedin City Council is lifting the boil water notice in the city after three days of clear test results.