Polluted Inheritance - New Zealand's freshwater Crisis by Mike Joy

The parlous state of our freshwater ecosystems is just one signal that we face a more widespread, and unprecedented, environmental crisis. New Zealand’s dairy industry is big business. But what are the hidden – and not so hidden – costs of intensive farming? Evidence presented here by ecologist Mike Joy demonstrates that intensive dairy farming has degraded our freshwater rivers, streams and lakes to an alarming degree. This situation, he argues, has arisen primarily through governmental policy that prioritises short-term economic growth over long-term environmental sustainability. This BWB Text is a call to arms, urging New Zealand to change course or risk the wellbeing of future generations. 'This is a necessary book. Every New Zealander needs to read it, but unfortunately those who won’t will inevitably be those who really should. Bridget Williams Books has made a reputation producing ‘short books on big subjects’, and Polluted Inheritance by Massey University lecturer Mike Joy is exactly that. In 61 pages, Joy, himself a former dairy farmer, takes off our collective blindfold and very simply lays out some very startling facts about our rivers, streams and swamps – and it is worse than we ever suspected.' – David Herkt, Fairfax 'In Polluted inheritance, Mike Joy focuses particularly on degradation of freshwater through the intensification of agriculture, most notably the recent expansion of dairying.' – M. J. Winterbourn, Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand Mike Joy was awarded the Reo mō te Awa River Voice Award at the New Zealand River Awards 2015. He was recognised as an outstanding communicator about the issues facing New Zealand’s rivers and streams.