5. Question No. 5—EnvironmentHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for the EnvironmentQuestion No. 5—Environment5. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for the Environment: Will he consider tightening the limits on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 if the Government's review of the science on the relationship between nitrates and birth outcomes confirms a link between drinking-water nitrate levels and premature births; if not why not?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): Talofa lava. I have met with the Associate Minister of Health the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall together with the Director-General of Health to discuss the matter and I understand the Ministry of Health is reviewing the various studies and will thereafter recommend whether or not further study is undertaken in New Zealand. If eventually nitrate levels were to be further tightened in New Zealand for drinking water standards that would be a health-led issue rather than for me as Minister for the Environment.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does the Minister agree that current nitrate levels in regions such as Canterbury are the result of land uses over decades not just recent years and that nitrate levels in ground water are likely to continue to increase in the foreseeable future?Hon DAVID PARKER: I think it's astounding that between 1990 and 2015 there was from memory a more than 600 percent increase in synthetic nitrogen fertiliser application in New Zealand and that that together with the more intensive livestock practices with more livestock per hectare there has been a remarkable increase in New Zealand in nitrates both on the land and in our waterways. That has contributed to environmental problems in our rivers including the overgrowth of periphyton slime and also nitrate toxicity levels which at times hinder a wide range of aquatic communities.Hon Eugenie Sage: Why does the Minister not support an urgent precautionary approach to tackle land uses which cause nitrate pollution in drinking water sources to avoid burdening present and future generations with more pollution and higher health risks?Hon DAVID PARKER: Well we've already for the first time in the history of New Zealand actually got a cap on the permitted amount of nitrogenous fertiliser—synthetic fertiliser—of 190 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare per annum for all pastoral farms. In addition to that we've said there will be a review from a water quality perspective as opposed to a human health perspective in 2023 of nitrogen management settings and the agreement from Cabinet is already that if by then there is not a material reduction in the use of synthetic fertiliser across New Zealand the review will include an assessment of whether further input controls on agriculture are needed.Hon Eugenie Sage: What level of evidence on the potential link between nitrate levels in drinking water and adverse health effects will the Minister need in order to consider reducing the fertiliser cap in the national environmental standards before 2023?Hon DAVID PARKER: As I said in the answer to the primary that is a question that should be addressed to the Associate Minister of Health. That doesn't fall within my responsibility.