Latest news with #GreenpeaceAotearoa
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Gore 'Not Out Of The Woods Yet'- Nitrate Level Linked To Increased Risk Of Preterm Birth
Greenpeace Aotearoa has tested a sample collected from the Gore town supply, which returned a result above 5 mg/L nitrate (NO3-N), a level associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Above this level of nitrate, the New Zealand College of Midwives recommends that pregnant people consider finding another source of water because of the increased risk of preterm birth. The sample was collected on the morning of Wednesday 23 July and tested with an optical spectrometer, which is standard equipment for testing nitrate in the field, and followed the organisation's standard testing procedures which have been externally reviewed by GNS science. While the township's do-not-drink notice has been lifted, Greenpeace freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe says there is still a risk to public health. "Gore is not out of the woods yet and we're concerned about the risk to pregnant people and babies in other rural communities. Many rural communities are experiencing nitrate contamination caused by intensive dairying. Gore was issued a do-not-drink notice last Friday after the town supply exceeded the maximum allowable value (MAV) of 11.3 mg/L for nitrate. This was set in the 1950s to avoid blue baby syndrome, but it doesn't take into account the more recent health science that has linked several health risks with long-term exposure to nitrate at levels below the current legal limits, including bowel cancer and preterm birth. "We know the source of this pollution. It's the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in intensive dairy farming, led by Fonterra and their lobbyists at Federated Farmers. This is an industry that isn't working for anyone except for the industry itself. Dairy pollution is contaminating people's drinking water. Meanwhile, New Zealanders are paying through the nose for a block of butter at the supermarket." "But instead of taking action, Luxon's government has proposed weakening freshwater protections at the behest of Federated Farmers - which will worsen the drinking water crisis." "It's about time that Federated Farmers were accountable to the people of New Zealand. Fed Farmers are opposing every measure to protect freshwater, and they should do right by the rural communities whose drinking water that they and Fonterra have polluted."
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
World Court's Climate Ruling A Legal Warning Shot For Luxon
Greenpeace Aotearoa says the world's highest court has just delivered a wake-up call for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. In a historic climate ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has confirmed that governments have legal obligations to protect people - both now and in the future - from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis. That includes regulating big polluters like fossil fuel companies and intensive livestock operations. "This is a warning shot to Luxon that his Government's war on nature and the climate comes with consequences," says Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson. "The Court has made it clear: states must take action to prevent climate harm, no matter where it occurs. They must uphold people's fundamental right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment - for today's communities and future generations." The ICJ ruling goes beyond the Paris Agreement, reinforcing that governments have a duty to regulate climate pollution, cooperate internationally, and prevent environmental harm. It strengthens the legal grounds for climate-impacted communities to hold governments accountable. Since taking office, the Luxon Government has scrapped or weakened numerous key climate policies. It has: Overturned the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration Pledged to fast-track coal mining Shelved agricultural emissions pricing Exempted the country's worst climate polluter - intensive dairying - from meaningful accountability "Luxon is elevating the profits of polluters above people's fundamental human rights," says Larsson. "This ruling puts him - and governments like his - on notice." The dairy industry, led by Fonterra, is New Zealand's largest climate polluter. Yet under pressure from lobby groups, the Government has rolled back environmental safeguards and is now considering weakening methane targets - despite clear advice from the Climate Change Commission that action on methane must be strengthened. Earlier this year, Luxon received a letter authored by dozens of international climate scientists accusing him of ignoring scientific evidence on methane and urging him to follow the Climate Commission's advice to strengthen New Zealand's methane target. The letter was featured on the front page of the Financial Times. "New Zealand is the world's largest dairy exporter and a major player in the global livestock industry," says Larsson. "How New Zealand addresses livestock emissions sets an important precedent for the rest of the world. If Luxon guts the methane target, New Zealand risks breaching the Paris Agreement and, by extension, its trade agreements with partners like the UK and EU." The historic ICJ ruling is a result of action taken in 2019 by 27 law students from The University of the South Pacific. As the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, they campaigned for the ICJ to issue an Advisory Opinion on the responsibilities of States in respect to climate change. The resolution, put forward by Vanuatu alongside a global alliance of States, passed the United Nations General Assembly unanimously in March 2023, co-sponsored by over 130 countries. "As this ruling shows, the courts are becoming an increasingly important venue for climate justice - because governments like ours are failing to protect people and the planet. And when that happens, people will step up to defend their future."
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Gore's Iconic Brown Trout Statue Latest Victim Of Township's Drinking Water Crisis
Gore's brown trout statue has become the latest victim of dairy industry pollution. On Tuesday night, the iconic statue was given cartoon-style crosses for eyes - Greenpeace Aotearoa's way of spotlighting the town's drinking water crisis and the role of dairy pollution in poisoning it. Greenpeace has also rebranded the 'Welcome to Gore' sign, which now reads 'Welcome to Gore - where dirty dairy wrecked the water'. Last Friday, residents of Gore were issued a do-not-drink notice after their town water supply exceeded 11.3 mg/L of nitrate, which is the legal limit set in the 1950s to avoid blue baby syndrome. While this notice has since been lifted, Greenpeace warns that it is only a matter of time before this happens again. Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says "The dirty dairy industry has wrecked Gore's drinking water, putting people's health at risk due to nitrate contamination. It is unacceptable that this community is increasingly unable to drink the water coming out of their kitchen taps. Gore's giant brown trout statue is now a beacon of the industry's pollution of drinking water." A growing body of scientific evidence has linked several health risks with long term exposure to nitrate at levels below the current legal limits. Long-term exposure to nitrate in drinking water at levels as low as 1 mg/L has been linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer, and this risk increases with higher levels of nitrate. At levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L, the New Zealand College of Midwives advises pregnant people to consider an alternative source of drinking water, because of an increased risk of preterm birth. Appelbe says, " Two years ago, we offered free nitrate tests to Gore residents, and found that 45% of the samples we tested from the town supply were above 4 mg/L of nitrate. Since then, levels of nitrate contamination have more than doubled, to above 10 mg/L. "This problem isn't going to go away simply by diluting the water - for many rural communities, nitrate contamination will get worse unless action is taken to address the source of the pollution: the intensive dairy industry, led by Fonterra. "There are too many cows and the industry is using too much synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. Nitrate contamination across the country is increasing as a result, particularly in rural areas. "We need regional councils and the Government to take action now. But instead of protecting people's drinking water, Luxon's Government is attempting to weaken freshwater protections. They've proposed removing the cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, which will enable dairy expansion. That means more cows, more fertiliser, and ultimately more contaminated drinking water." Greenpeace is calling on the Government to scrap its proposed changes to the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater, which are currently going through consultation. The organisation says that these changes will make freshwater pollution worse, impacting lakes, rivers, and drinking water across the country.
Scoop
21-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
‘Only A Matter Of Time' Before A Baby Is Harmed Due To Nitrate Contamination, Warns Greenpeace
Greenpeace Aotearoa says that the news that the Gore water supply had exceeded the Government's maximum allowable value of nitrate in drinking water raises concerns over potential harm to infants. This is the second town to make headlines by exceeding nitrate levels in the town water supply in the last year, with Canterbury's Glenavy township exceeding the MAV (maximum allowable value) in December last year. The MAV was set in the 1960s to prevent methemoglobinemia, or Blue Baby Syndrome, which can be fatal. Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says "It's only a matter of time before we see a baby harmed in New Zealand due to consuming formula mixed with nitrate contaminated water. It is absolutely unacceptable that rural communities are unable to drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap - and this is happening more and more frequently." "The main source of this contamination is the intensive dairy industry - in particular, the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. To avoid the risk to life that is posed by nitrate contamination, we need to stop the pollution at the source, and that means implementing a sinking cap on the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading "However, the Luxon Government is doing the opposite. Rather than changing our laws to protect freshwater, Chris Bishop is implementing a freshwater pollution plan. He is weakening the national direction on freshwater, and removing the cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use. "We know that the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is causing nitrate contamination, and already towns in rural areas like Canterbury and Southland are facing the consequences of this, with undrinkable water. Removing limits on fertiliser use will worsen the drinking water crisis - and it's only a matter of time before it proves to be dangerous." There are several health risks associated with nitrate levels much lower than the current maximum allowable value of 11.3 mg/L. Long term exposure to nitrate contaminated water above 1 mg/L has been linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer. At levels above 5 mg/L, the New Zealand College of Midwives recommends that pregnant people consider finding another source of water, due to an increased risk of preterm birth. Gore's water supply tested at 11.4 mg/L of nitrate on Friday. Nitrate cannot be removed by boiling drinking water, so those with high levels of nitrate must find an alternative water source or invest in costly reverse osmosis filters. Greenpeace says that the best way to reduce harm done by nitrate pollution in the long-term is to regulate the source of the pollution. "We're calling on this Government to make decisions that will protect rural communities' access to safe drinking water, and prevent the health impacts that are known to arise from nitrate contamination," says Appelbe. "New Zealanders overwhelmingly want clean water in lakes, rivers, and their kitchen taps - it's time for Luxon to deliver."
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Greenpeace Holds Dawn Commemoration Of 40 Years Since Rainbow Warrior Bombing, Death Of Photographer Fernando Pereira
Press Release – Greenpeace Greenpeace Aotearoa says today is a moment to reflect on the past, and remember the life of Fernando Pereira, the photographer who was killed in the bombing. Greenpeace Aotearoa held a dawn ceremony on board the Rainbow Warrior this morning to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior and the death of photographer Fernando Pereira. The ceremony was hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and attended by over a 150 people. Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman, speaking from the deck of the Rainbow Warrior says, 'French government agents came from the other side of the planet not only to kill our friend and colleague, and to kill our ship, but most of all they came here to try to kill our dream of a nuclear free Pacific. 'And it is true that they killed Fernando, and it is true that they sank the first Rainbow Warrior, now resting in the north of Aotearoa under the watchful eye of Ngāti Kura at Matauri Bay. 'But it is not true that they killed our dream of a nuclear-free Pacific. In fact, their act of violence was a catalyst for the further growth of the nuclear-free movement here and around the world.' At the time of the bombing in 1985, the Rainbow Warrior was preparing to lead a flotilla to Mororoa to protest French nuclear testing. Greenpeace International Programme Director Carmen Gravitt, also speaking from the Rainbow Warrior, said, 'The French government tried to silence these voices with violence, fear, and intimidation. But they miscalculated. Instead of breaking our movement, they amplified it. They blew wind into our sails.' 'We built a new Rainbow Warrior and sailed to Moruroa. The peoples of the Pacific rose. And the world joined them. Together, we did not stop – not until we won and France halted its nuclear testing. 'Every right we have today was won by people who dared to fight for it. People who demanded the vote even when it was dangerous, workers who demanded dignity even when it cost them everything, indigenous peoples and frontline communities who demanded justice even when no one thought they could win. Today, we also honour them. And humbly seek to carry their legacy forward.' In the wake of the bombing of the first Rainbow Warrior, protests and international pressure against nuclear weapons testing continued to build. Greenpeace mounted three further protest expeditions to Mururoa in 1990, 1992 and 1995 on board the second Rainbow Warrior. In 1995, the Rainbow Warrior sailed into the test zone, defying exclusion orders and attempting to disrupt the tests, drawing global media attention and support. French forces seized the ship and arrested the crew, sparking widespread international condemnation. Although six tests went ahead, the intense backlash contributed to France announcing a permanent end to nuclear testing in 1996. Greenpeace Aotearoa says today is a moment to reflect on the past, and remember the life of Fernando Pereira, the photographer who was killed in the bombing. But the organisation also says it is a moment to look to the future and to challenge current attacks on environmental protest. 'There's no doubt that we're facing challenging times. Nature is under attack. Peace and democracy are under attack too. The world feels more unstable than ever,' says Norman. 'But when the environment and democracy are threatened, we all have to step up and get braver. The bravery of the nuclear-free activists – who sailed into a test zone and put themselves at enormous risk – is an inspiration for the courage we need to find now in the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis.'
