Wetlands
Southland

Wild rivers need better protection – Environment Commissioner

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright is calling for greater protection for New Zealand’s wild and scenic rivers.

The call comes with the release of Dr Wright’s latest report: Hydroelectricity or wild river? Climate change versus natural heritage.

“Many of our wild and scenic rivers are extremely beautiful but have little protection, especially from hydroelectric development.

“Of course hydropower is also extremely important – it’s a low carbon form of energy generation and that’s very important for the fight against climate change.

“There needs to be a strategic approach to identifying wild rivers in New Zealand and applying real protections to them. We need to be clear about which rivers are available for development and which rivers we need to protect.”

 

ENDS

A copy of the report is available here

A youtube video of Dr. Wright discussing the report is available here