In the Pipeline
 News
and special events coming up!
The New Zealand Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS)
The New Zealand Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) regulations, developed in partnership between the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the Ministry for the Environment, and industry representatives, were promulgated on 1 April 2010. WELS labels will be required on taps, showers, toilets, urinals, washing machines and dishwashers as of 1 April 2011 (with a further two years for existing stock held before that date). WELS labels will increasingly be appearing on these products as suppliers gear up for 1 April 2011.
WELS information available on the internet is as follows.
The retail booklet and suppliers guide links can be added to other websites or intranets as required. If you wish to load the pdf files themselves that is also possible, as long as you clearly attribute the publisher and holder of the copyright as the Ministry for the Environment.
In addition, hard copies of the retail guide can be made available. These are currently being distributed to the major retail chains that sell WELS products for the reference of their sales staff in the lead-up to 1 April 2011. To obtain copies, please contact us at
waterefficiency@mfe.govt.nz .
Our partnership with the WELS product suppliers, retailers, and consumer and environmental advocates is critical to a successful introduction of WELS to New Zealand, and therefore really important to us. Thank you very much in advance for your assistance in implementing and promoting the WELS scheme, and in ensuring that both domestic and commercial consumers get accurate and helpful messages.
If you have any questions at all about the scheme, please do not hesitate to get in touch with:
Dana Rachelle Peterson
Senior Analyst, Business and Communities Team, Ministry for the Environment
dana.peterson@mfe.govt.nz 64-4-439-7790, PO Box 10-362, (23 Kate Sheppard Place) Wellington, New Zealand, Fax 64-4-439-7706
Top quality drinking water for Waitakere Residents
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| Top quality drinking water for Waitakere Residents |
EcoWater's water supply team have achieved a water quality 'a' grade from all nine water quality zones for the past year. This grading means that residents can have some confidence that their drinking water supply system will not become contaminated. The grading was awarded by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service on 08 July 2010.
This is an excellent result for Waitakere City and is reflective of the dedicated work undertaken by the Network and Operations Team to prepare the documentation and physical controls needed for this high grading.
The testing process is demanding and there are strict performance guidelines for water quality compliance and network condition. Waitakere City's EcoWater team will be is handing over an excellent water supply operation in good shape to the new water supplier, Watercare Services later this year.
Rainwater Harvesting YouTube Video
View this
delightful message on the importance and 'ease' of rain-harvesting, from India.
WELS progress update from Mfe
 As you know, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the
Ministry for the Environment have been working on the
development of a water efficiency labelling scheme for New
Zealand.
Mid 2009 an exposure draft of the regulations was sent out.
Since then there has been some refinement of the regulations
following discussion with Ministers. The Ministers for the
Environment and Consumer Affairs are keen to ensure that the
best outcomes can be achieved for New Zealand businesses and
consumers.
Last month, the Government agreed to proceed with
regulations for a water efficiency labelling scheme. The
technical content of the regulations is essentially the same
as previously consulted on; however, compliance costs have
been reduced by removal of the database and associated
listing requirement and the advertising. These changes will
not affect the integrity and intent of the scheme, yet will
reduce compliance costs for government and industry.
With these decisions, the Ministries for the Environment and
Consumer Affairs are now working to have revised regulations
drafted with the expectation that they will be in place by
mid 2010. The regulations will require product imported into
or manufactured in New Zealand after that date to be
labelled by mid 2011.
Information for manufacturers, suppliers and retailers on
complying with the regulations is being developed and will
be provided when available.
For more information please refer to the
Ministry for the
Environment website
or contact
Andred Saker - email
Andred.Saker@mfe.govt.nz ph 04 439 7617
or
Brendon Noonan - email
Brendon.Noonan@mca.govt.nz ph 04 474
2691
Merry Christmas Everyone
and Welcome to 2010
This holiday season we'll be surfing with the world's
best.
The best young surfers in the world will be competing for
waves at Piha in January when Auckland hosts the 2010
Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. This
exciting event will be held from 20-28 January.
 Come
along and watch the world's best under 18 year old surfers
battling it out for world titles in the biggest event of the
junior surfing year and certainly a huge event for Piha and
Waitakere.
The spectacle is an Olympic-type event staged with
competitors from around the world competing both
individually and for their countries in front to of large
crowds. Better arrive early to secure your spot on the
beach.
Piha is a great location for the eight day surfing event
with its thrilling waves and scenic splendour but it's also
a great place to chill out with the family and friends, have
a picnic, build sandcastles and have non-sporting fun in the
water. Just be sure to wear your sunscreen and take extra
care with swimming at Piha - stay between the flags.
This time of year is also great for getting things done
around the home. We tend to use less water indoors but use
heaps on outdoor activities so let's be mindful to use water
wisely.
Remember to check this site over the break for any additions
to our pages and consider submitting an opinion piece in the
New Year.
I'll also be updating Facebook Splash Nz and Twitter
Splash4nz from time to time.
Best Wishes
Splash
Note: You will need to have 
Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed on your computer in order to view and print this document. For
help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful
Tips.
Poster from World Water Day 2009 (Size 351K)Tell us about your promotional campaigns for this event
and we'll list them here.
If you know of children aged five to ten years who would
like to be water ambassadors, send them to the Water
Ambassadors Kids Club
www.waterambassadors.co.nz where they'll learn
about water-related issues and have great fun doing it.
EcoDay 2010
Sunday 28 February - 10am to 4pm
Olympic Park, New Lynn, Waitakere City
EcoDay is a free, community event and is Auckland's
premier environmental festival. EcoDay highlights include:
- An EcoExpo showcasing a wide variety of green
businesses promoting sustainable products and services
in the areas of renewable energy, water conservation,
waste minimisation, sustainable gardening, fair trade
and organics
- a Green Marketplace where visitors can purchase
eco-friendly and fair-trade products
- a Green Transport Zone featuring the latest in
hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles, electric and manual
bicycles, as well as information about walking, cycling
and public transport options
- a Recycled Arts and Crafts Market featuring products
made from found, recovered, reused and recycled
materials
- a series of free Seminars on topics such as
sustainable building, renewable energy, climate change
and permaculture, as well as free, practical hands-on
Workshops on themes such as composting, propagation and
organic gardening
- free EcoTours to selected local ecohomes and organic
gardens
- an EcoKids zone with storytelling, clowns,
facepainting and trapeze artists
- delicious organic food and drink
The festival is staged in close proximity to the
EcoMatters Sustainable Living Centre and the
Trusts
EcoHouse and both locations will be open to the public
on EcoDay 2010.
EcoDay, now in its eighth year, provides visitors with
practical information and advice on incorporating
sustainable living principles and practices into their
everyday lives.
For further information or to book your exhibition space
online, visit:
ECODAY 2010 Homepage
EcoExpo and Green Marketplace
Providing an opportunity for green businesses, community
organisations and government to promote their products,
services and/or messages is a key objective of EcoDay.
The EcoExpo will showcase a variety of exhibitors promoting
products and services for sustainable living including green
businesses trading in everything from solar hot water
systems, to rain water tanks to natural funerals.
Visitors to EcoDay will be able to shop at the Green
Marketplace for green gifts, native plants and organic
clothing.
Community organisations and government departments will
provide visitors with information and advice on local and
global environmental issues and will be promoting the
services that they offer.
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