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Update report – Water quality in New Zealand: Understanding the science

25 June 2013
2. BackgroundIntroduction

In March 2012, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released a report on water quality titled  Water quality in New Zealand: Understanding the science. The report focused on the three main freshwater pollutants: pathogens, sediment and nutrients.

The report differed from the Commissioner's previous reports in that it contained no recommendations. Its purpose was to provide an accessible, educative guide to water quality science to help inform public debate and assist decision making. This update report describes the response to the 2012 report and explains how it has been used.