UPDATED 5.00pm Fresh figures show our rivers are anything but – more than half of the monitored rivers are getting worse.

LISTEN ABOVE: Environment secretary Vicky Robertson spoke to Rachel Smalley

A report from the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand says rivers and lakes are under increasing pressure.

It says nitrogen levels are worse at 55 percent of rivers which are monitored.

The report shows 72 percent of the 39 native fish species that are monitored are at risk of extinction. 

Levels of E.coli are 22 times higher in urban areas, and almost 10 times higher in pastoral rivers, than areas of native forest.

Environment Secretary Vicky Robertson said land use is clearly affecting the state of our fresh water and it could take years to clean up our dirty waterways.

"Nitrogen is worsening. Agriculture intensification, storm water and wastewater overflows and leaky pipes are likely to be causes of that," Ms Roberston said.

Environment Minister Nick Smith said the report doesn't give a full picture of water management.

Prime Minister Bill English said we shouldn't have to sacrifice economic growth to improve our waterways.

The report shows rivers and lakes are under increasing pressure, with levels of E.coli 22 times higher in urban areas compared with land covered by native vegetation.

Mr English said he wasn't surprised at the results, as it was expected with the increase in farming and land development.

He said it wouldn't make sense to cut back on farming or housing development without making some smart choices about how to preserve water quality.

Mr English said the Government has taken a number of steps, including having these reports produced, as previously we didn't know the condition of our waterways.

"What we should take from it is that every New Zealander has a role to play in improving the quality of our water."

 

KEY FINDINGS:
* Nitrogen levels are getting worse at 55 percent and better at 28 percent of monitored river sites across New Zealand
* Phosphorus levels are getting better at 42 percent and worse at 25 percent of monitored river sites across New Zealand
* Of the 39 native fish species reported on, 72 percent are either threatened with or at risk of extinction
* E.coli levels are 22 times higher in urban areas and 9.5 times higher in pastoral rivers compared with rivers in native forest areas
* 51 percent of water allocated for consumptive use is for irrigation, and 65 percent of that is allocated to Canterbury.