# Water conservation order

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A **water conservation order** (**WCO**) is a legal ruling to protect aspects of water bodies. It may be to protect the quantity of the water itself or for any issues relating to the water body as a whole. Since 1984, sixteen WCOs have been passed, with a gap of 15 years between the last two: the 2008 Oreti River WCO and the 2023 [Te Waikoropupū Springs](/source/Te_Waikoropup%C5%AB_Springs) WCO.

## New Zealand

In [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), a Water Conservation Order is used to protect the natural, cultural and recreational values of any water body.[1] Water Conservation Orders came about as a result of lobbying by a group of stakeholders in the late seventies. At that time rivers were managed through the Water & Soil Conservation Act, which was administered by an appointed statutory body (NWASCA) serviced by the Ministry of Works. The engineers of the Ministry of Works argued that there was no need to legislate further as the Act contained provision for setting Minimum Flows.

Seven WCOs were passed prior to the [Resource Management Act 1991](/source/Resource_Management_Act_1991) (RMA) coming into place. Since the passing of the RMA, a further nine WCOs have been created. Hence, there are currently 16 separate Water Conservation Orders:[2]

WCO Year Legislation Mōtū River 1984 pre-RMA Rakaia River 1988 pre-RMA Lake Wairarapa 1989 pre-RMA Manganuioteao River 1989 pre-RMA Ahuriri River 1990 pre-RMA Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora 1990 pre-RMA Grey River / Māwheranui 1991 pre-RMA Rangitīkei River 1993 RMA Kawarau River 1997 RMA Mataura River 1997 RMA Buller River 2001 RMA Mohaka River 2004 RMA Motueka River 2004 RMA Rangitata River 2006 RMA Ōreti River 2008 RMA Te Waikoropupū Springs and Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer 2023 RMA

A water conservation order has been proposed for the [Hurunui River](/source/Hurunui_River) in the South Island.

Irrigation New Zealand, the national body representing agricultural irrigators and the irrigation industry, opposes water conservation orders. Irrigation NZ considers they no longer have relevance, they lock up the water resource and they may bankrupt the nation.[3][4]

## References

1. [Part 9](http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1991/0069/latest/DLM236751.html) of the Resource Management Act 1991

1. ["Water conservation orders"](https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/water-conservation-orders/). [Ministry for the Environment](/source/Ministry_for_the_Environment_(New_Zealand)). Retrieved 6 June 2025.

1. ["Water Conservation Orders Have No Role In Sustainable Future"](http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1208/S00032/water-conservation-orders-have-no-role-in-sustainable-future.htm). Irrigation NZ. 13 August 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200603041923/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1208/S00032/water-conservation-orders-have-no-role-in-sustainable-future.htm) 3 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

1. Curtis, Andrew (6 October 2017). ["Andrew Curtis: Water conservation orders dam up vital discussion"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/97590622/andrew-curtis-water-conservation-orders-dam-up-vital-discussion). *Stuff*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200603041746/https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/97590622/andrew-curtis-water-conservation-orders-dam-up-vital-discussion) 3 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

## External links

- [Water Conservation Orders](http://rivers.org.nz/article/WaterConservationOrders) New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association web pages describing New Zealand water conservation orders.
- [Water Conservation Orders](http://www.rmaguide.org.nz/rma/otherprocesses/waterconservationorders.cfm) [Environmental Defence Society](/source/Environmental_Defence_Society) RMA Guide web page.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Water conservation order](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_conservation_order) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_conservation_order?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.