If we are serious about maintaining or improving the quality of our rivers, why are we still converting land to dairy farming?

Most dairy farmers are doing a great job, but the problem facing some of our rivers is the sheer number of dairy cows in the catchment. It isn’t any one farmer’s fault – it is a collective problem.

Until local people decide what state they want their local river to be in, or until new dairy farmers can demonstrate they will not have a negative impact on water quality, we need a moratorium on intensifying farming. In fact, the same goes for any activity that can harm our rivers, lakes and ground water.

After all, it is far cheaper to keep pristine rivers pristine, than it is to fix the ones we have already stuffed.

About the Author

Gareth Morgan

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Gareth Morgan is a New Zealand economist and commentator on public policy who in previous lives has been in business as an economic consultant, funds manager, and professional company director. He is also a motorcycle adventurer and philanthropist. Gareth and his wife Joanne have a charitable foundation, the Morgan Foundation, which has three main stands of philanthropic endeavour – public interest research, conservation and social investment.