Land is fundamental to life, and central to the environmental system we depend on. The decisions we make and the actions we take affect not just the land, but also water, and the life it supports. Additionally water provides great opportunities for all of us – our environments, farms, cities, as well as for energy production and industry. But some of our freshwater ecosystems are suffering as a result of urban development, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other human activities.

The biodiversity and ecosystems are what sustain us and provide our life-support systems and the foundation of our economy and society. Therefore we all have a role to play in maintaining these systems and taking care of Papatūānuku. Our soil is the foundation of our economy; and healthy soils are key to managing climate change and improving freshwater quality. Organic farming is one of many solutions to protecting our soils and waterways.  This is great news for our environment, and organic food and clothing appeals to consumers as both a healthy and ethical choice. Beyond money and ethics, organic farming practices result in numerous environmental benefits - such as, reduced exposure to pesticides and chemicals, supporting water conservation and building healthy soil.  It is critical that we do not deplete our natural resources, both in our rural and urban areas. In our cities, wider adoption of concepts such as water-sensitive design and urban farming can help us to work in alignment with natural systems. The use of natural resources, while often preferable to synthetics, needs to be carefully managed in order to ensure sustainable use and to avoid issues such as deforestation.

Businesses in sectors with significant direct impacts on land and water are generally regulated in Aotearoa. This can include measurement of air and wastewater discharges, and the taking of water from rivers, lakes and ground. For those businesses, although regulation is in place there is usually potential to reduce their environmental impact further through proactive management. For other businesses there can still be impacts on land and water - typically in the supply chain. A number of independent certifications have been created to give customers confidence that food and other natural ingredients is sourced from an ethical supply chain. These certifications cover a range of topics of concern to customers including organic farming, human rights and labour, deforestation, and animal welfare. The concept of water footprint is another useful tool that businesses can use to understand the water impact of their products.