The Green Party wants to take charge of cleaning up New Zealand’s polluted rivers and lakes after the Election, no matter who wins.

Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman says it doesn’t care whether National or Labour wins, as far as this issue of cleaning up the countries waterways is concerned.

Dr Norman says a recent study by Lincoln University found that water pollution is rated as the most important environmental problem facing the country.

He says Labour and National know the public want to clean up our waterways and both parties have put forward clean-up plans.

But neither is as comprehensive as the Greens, in addressing the causes of pollution’

The Green Party’s three point plan means to set standards for clean water and intensive agriculture, introduce a fair charge for irrigation water, and support clean-up initiatives.

The plan also wants all stock excluded from rivers and lakes within five years.

ACT Party Primary Industries spokesperson Don Nicolson has described the Green Party water policies as ‘reckless and dangerous’.

“I don’t like to be negative but this is sheer lunacy’ Mr Nicholson said.

Mr Nicholson said the Green’s ‘loopy logic’ would mean no more water dams for cities, and a hosepipe ban every day of the year.

He said 'there’s something in the water all right, and it’s not green. The Greens are dangerous, inconsistent and reckless. It’s high time to expose them for what they are: hard core socialists in a green cloak'.