Ministers to check out stream progress | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Two government ministers were due to fly by helicopter to Pirinoa this afternoon for a first-hand look at the progress being made to clean up streams formerly threatened by the release of livestock effluent.

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs and Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton planned to rendezvous with Fonterra management and Wellington Regional Council chairman Ian Buchanan at John Coveney's farm.

A last-minute change of plans this morning meant Mrs Hobbs had to cancel because she was unable to get back from a conference in Nairobi in time to attend but Mr Sutton was still expected to make the trip.

The Clean Streams Accord, essentially signed between Fonterra and its suppliers, is now a year old and Mr Buchanan said the signs are "very encouraging" that good progress is being made to ensure cleaner waterways.

He said the accord meant farmers had to spend quite a lot of money, in some cases fencing off streams and making alternative arrangements for the disposal of effluent.

He said the intention is to achieve cleaner streams by co-operation rather than by regulation.

Livestock effluent washing into waterways prompted wildlife lobby Fish and Game to mount a campaign against "dirty dairying".

Fish and Game said an environmental report card on New Zealand farming issued by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan Williams shows large-scale environmental problems from intensive agriculture.