Greens call on Fonterra to help protect waterways

As the Maui gas leak continues to limit milk processing capabilities, the Green Party is calling on Fonterra to assess which farmers have the ability to dispose of unprocessed milk safely, and intervene to support farmers who do not.

"Fonterra can demonstrate environmental responsibility by using its resources to assess farmers' current milk disposal methods and providing support to farmers whose methods may pose an environmental threat," said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

As the Maui gas leak continues to limit milk processing capabilities in the north of the North Island, many dairy farmers will be again forced to dispose of their unprocessed milk. Farmers have been advised that spray irrigation to land is the best disposal method, however not all farms have the technology required.

"We need to protect our waterways from milk dumping because milk in streams largely eliminates oxygen from the water, suffocating fish and other wildlife," said Dr Norman.

"As a last resort, farmers have been advised to dig emergency trenches or pits to hold the milk until it rots, then bury it, but this method has the potential to contaminate groundwater sources.

"Where spray irrigation isn't an option, Fonterra can send their milk collection trucks to the farm, as they would during business as usual, then deliver the milk to a wastewater treatment plant or a farm which has the capacity to spray the milk onto land.

"We can't let our waterways and the precious fish and wildlife that depend on them suffer because of the Maui gas leak.

"Every effort should be made to ensure that unprocessed milk does not end up in our waterways, and on this front, Fonterra can take a strong leadership role," said Dr Norman.