Federated Farmers dairy group chairman Andrew Hoggard has waded into the debate over the "swimmability" of rivers, saying people are unlikely to get poisoned from current nitrogen or E-coli levels. Among the 25 per cent worst rivers for nitrogen in the country is the Mangatainoka River, just below the Tui brewery in the Wairarapa. "Many of the worst rivers in the country for swimming are in Canterbury, where dairy farming has increased rapidly in the last two decades. Rivers won't poison swimmers: Federated FarmersMURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ National MP Ian McKelvie, Environment Minister Nick Smith and National MP Jono Naylor took a swim in the Manawatu River in March to formally launch their freshwater action plan for 2016-21. Quoting the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website, Hoggard said the nitrogen level above which water became unsafe for drinking was 10 to 11 milligrams per litre.

Source: Stuff June 29, 2016 05:30 UTC