The issue of nitrogen leaching.

Taranaki environmental activist Rusty Kane believes New Zealand farming is at the crossroads when it comes to the issue of nitrogen leaching.

Down one path lies more efficient, more profitable farms, while going down the other finds the future of New Zealand's clean, green image in serious doubt.

Mr Kane, the leader of the People's Choice lobby group and former political candidate, has been visiting regional councils throughout the North Island to campaign for stronger policies surrounding nitrogen leaching on farms.

Last week he met Waikato Regional councillors Jane Hennebry and Phillip Legg, as well as policy and strategy acting group manager Tony Petch, to discuss the issue.

Leaching occurs when nitrogen-based fertilisers, which are spread on surrounding pastoral land, seep into farm rivers and waterways, creating a chemical imbalance in the quality of the water and surrounding land.
Mr Kane said the issue, if not addressed through regional council policy and changes in farming habits, could seriously impact on New Zealand agriculture.

''We can't say things and do something else,'' he said.

''If you want to have a future in farming, we have to move on this (the nitrogen issue).'' The best recognised way to combat nitrogen leaching is to look after riparian zones, or land immediately surrounding waterways, through the planting of specific trees and plant life on the banks of the waterways. These act as a ''filter'' to prevent nitrogen flowing into the water.

Alternatively, the use of non-chemical fertilisers remove the problem completely.

Mr Kane however is no long-haired tree-hugging hippie.

He knows the pressures farmers are under, and the difficult everyday decisions they must make.

This is where the encouragement and support of regional councils is crucially important, for both groups, and the environment. ''We can't expect the farmers to shoulder all the costs,'' he said. ''But you've got to look at how to really be sustainable as a farmer.

''Conventional farming today is not sustainable and if we don't make changes, we are going to lose our edge.'' ''A good conventional farmer will be a good organic farmer (without the use of chemical fertilisers) . th. th. but we need to change the way we're doing things on the land.'' Ms Hennebry described the meeting with Mr Kane as ''very positive,'' adding she was impressed at Mr Kane's balanced view of change for both farmers and the environment.

Waikato Regional Council is seen as one of the more progressive regional councils in the North Island when it comes to the issue of nitrogen leaching.

Ad Feedback The issue has been included on the agenda in the last two council meetings, signifying the growing importance of the topic.

Ms Hennebry said a recent policy on the use of lower amounts of nitrogen around Lake Taupo was aimed at creating a green belt around the lake, while the council has also highlighted water catchments around the region seen as ''priority'' for action.

The Waikato region extends from Lake Taupo to around Mercer, including the Waikato River and other large water catchments.

Mr Kane formed the People's Choice Party in 1999 to voice about a number of environmental issues around New Zealand.

The leader has stood in a number of elections, but after failing to draw significant numbers of votes, turned the party into a lobby group targetting environmental issues.

Along with his Waikato visit, Mr Kane has stopped in at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the Horizons Regional Council (which cares for Manawatu and Whanganui), the Taranaki Regional Council and Northland Regional Council.

BEN STANLEY
Waikato Times