100% pure, woof woof
For those of you who missed it, a fortnight ago there was a toxic bloom in a Canterbury river, the Ashley, that poisoned a dog that ate some of it. It was the same as the one that killed several dogs when they ate it from the Hutt River last year.
I doubt that the following will appear in our tourist advertising:
Medical Officer of Health Alistair Humphrey said people swimming in water with increased levels of the algal bloom could suffer asthma, eye irritations, rashes, blistering around the mouth and nose, and gastro-intestinal disorders, including abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhoea.
He warned people to avoid slow-moving ponds and swim in the flowing water of the main channels, where the risk of infestation was lower. If anyone swallowed water containing algal bloom, they needed to get to a doctor.
Given that yesterday was world water day and that we promote ourselves as 100% pure around the world, maybe we should be doing a bit more to clean up our rivers and streams.
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:35 am
um..no comment/story on the g.m. mosquito..?
the one with the glowing red eyes..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 am
I wonder if the bottled water manufacturers (or should that be bottlers) are behind this activity?
High urea, carbon emmission and nitrogen contamination is going to increase due in part to forest removal and the recent increase in dairying. Irrigation for those giant centre pivot sprinklers that are appearing all over Canterbury and inland MacKenzie country are also going to draw off some of the water that could possibly dilute the contamination in rivers. A sort of catch 22.
March 23rd, 2007 at 12:34 pm
it’s not a catch 22 at all m’angelo
irrigation brings land into dairy production. more dairy means more nitrogen that ends up in waterways. irrigation doesn’t dilute nitrogen - it mainlines its delivery.
not only do we have lass water available for other users, it’s of poorer quality.
althought the dairy industry has done a little to improve matters, we sure do have water issues.
mike
March 23rd, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Mike
Granted - the amount of nitrogen does not get any less. But dilution/concentration is a factor in terms of severity of toxic bloom. What I was saying is similar to your comment - Increase one thing and reduce another - has a consequence- its a balacing act. Especially with our water cycles.
March 23rd, 2007 at 4:55 pm
interesting in light of an article in today’s Dominion Post about Maori groups asking for recognition of customary rights with reprect to rivers. Seems to me, neither Maori nor Pakeha, nor fish, nor dogs, are going to be able to exercise customary use of rivers if this level of pollution continues.
March 26th, 2007 at 10:39 am
“Tangata whenua respect their customary rights to water as the exercise of tino rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga over waterways�
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00461.htm
The Green Party supports Maori on this issue.
http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/policy5085.html
jh
March 26th, 2007 at 11:17 am
kahikatea
Very well said, before we start the usual crap about Maori owning the water it might be a good idea to clean the rivers up.
BTW, why is it that Maori can mobilise thousands of people for a march on Parliament when it comes to the seabed and foreshore yet we have never seen a march or a hear a peep from Maori about the shocking level of child abuse and crime among Maori.
March 26th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
7. big bruv Says:
> Very well said, before we start the usual crap about Maori owning the water it might be a good idea to clean the rivers up.
I don’t think it has to be one before the other - just that the use of customary rights is meaningless if the river is not safe to enjoy. The treaty of waitangi only requires the recognition of customary rights for Maori, but I see no reason why we can’t create legal protection for other people’s customary rights, too.
> BTW, why is it that Maori can mobilise thousands of people for a march on Parliament when it comes to the seabed and foreshore yet we have never seen a march or a hear a peep from Maori about the shocking level of child abuse and crime among Maori.
presumably you’ve forgotten the huge candlelight vigil that Pita Sharples organised in Manakau City to protest against against child abuse in the wake of the Kahui case.
March 26th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
kahikatea
“presumably you’ve forgotten the huge candlelight vigil that Pita Sharples organised in Manakau City to protest against against child abuse in the wake of the Kahui case”
Not at all, firstly it was NOT huge and secondly it is the only event that has been organised so far, not surprisingly it was Pita Sharples who organised the event, he is a good man and one that Maori should listen to a lot more, I particularly like his views on Maori and social welfare.
Maori are dead keen to march when there is money or resources at stake but when it is an issue of violence or the massive over representation in our crime stats there is no call for a march.