38017 (2024). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister for the Environment

38017 (2024). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister for the Environment: Will changes to the application of the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management mean the commercial use of water takes precedence over the protection of drinking water?

Hon Penny Simmonds: No. Changes proposed in the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill would only affect how the hierarchy applies in respect of resource consenting processes. The Government is replacing the existing National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM), to better reflect the interests of all water users. In particular, we are working hard to progress changes to the application of the hierarchy of obligations contained in the Te Mana o te Wai provisions of the NPS-FM.