Back in 2017 when Jacinda Ardern was campaigning as leader of the Labour party, she was a passionate outspoken advocate for cleaner waterways.  Nick Smith was in charge of our streams and rivers in the previous government and he, and the National government were widely and roundly criticised when they announced their Clean Water Package.  The goal was laudable - a goal of making 90 per cent of rivers and lakes swimmable by 2040. 

And how was he going to do that?  His critics claimed that to achieve that goal, National was simply shifting the goalposts and redefining the definition of swimmable.  Jacinda Arden, David Parker and the rest of the Labour team were adamant that cleaning up our rivers and streams and reclaiming a Kiwi birthright were a top priority for them, if they were to become the government.

Listen to the audio above as Kerre McIvor talks about whose responsibility it is to keep our waterways clean.