Quantifying Excess Nitrogen Loads in Fresh Water

At least 43% of New Zealand's agricultural land (31% of New Zealand's total land area) is in catchments that are under pressure ('pressure' meaning the ratio of the current load of total nitrogen to the maximum allowable load of nitrogen that can be emitted and still meet current regulatory criteria). The nitrogen load reductions required to meet water quality objectives in some regions are large relative to existing loads. The current load is twice the maximum allowable load in parts of the Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Research Findings Brief prepared by Our Land and Water