Book Review ”The Fight for Freshwater – a memoir” by Mike Joy, published by Bridget Williams Books, price $39.99. Reviewed by Tony Orman.
A leading ecologist and a controversial one at that Mike Joy has written a book “The Fight for Freshwater”, i.e. a memoir that delves deeply into the decline of New Zealand’s freshwater and in particular lowland rivers. Mike Joy has long been an outspoken critic of governments for their lack of effort in arresting the downward trend in the quality and quantity of rivers, indeed freshwater -think aquifers for drinking water too.
In May 2011, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key was interviewed by Stephen Sackur on the BBC’s Hard Talk television show.
Stephen Sackur, told Key that New Zealand’s slogan “clean and green” was no longer true and quoted Dr. Mike Joy of Massey University as saying New Zealand was delusional about the environmental threats and especially freshwater. PM Key was taken aback and protested strongly.
But Stephen Sackur quoted Mike Joy’s research, which had found half of the lakes and 90 per cent of lowland rivers in New Zealand were polluted.
But Stephen Sackur quoted Mike Joy’s research, which had found half of the lakes and 90 per cent of lowland rivers in New Zealand were polluted.
In the first chapter in his newly published book, Mike Joy recalls that the interview on BBC Hardtalk “dragged him into the national spotlight.”
On becoming a scientist and getting involved in research on native fish, Mike Joy soon saw through the politics surrounding freshwater management and how the dice could be loaded by devious politicians and bureaucrats and even by compliant sycophantic or timid unprincipled scientists.
Mike Joy doesn’t pull his punches. Weak-kneed scientists get a rap as do departmental bureaucrats and the Department of Conservation for its inertia..
He was incensed at the Department of Conservation’s decision around 2008, to start giving consents for commercial eel fishers to harvest long fin eels within national parks and reserves. Initially when told, he refused to believe it. After all Mike Joy had worked with DOC for years on saving native fish.
He tried to reason with DOC staff. But the muzzling had been implemented.
“The DOC scientists were also appalled but could not say so.”
Victims in issues like this are often scientists. Science is too often corrupted.
The long fin eel debacle left him with a sour taste.
But Mike Joy is undeterred, in fact resilient and determined.
The Fight Continues
The last line of his writing says “I will be continuing the fight for freshwater.”
The book should alert many as to the quiet but urgent crisis around New Zealand’s freshwater.
After the first few chapters on his upbringing and variety of jobs before settling into studying for a university ecology degree to become a fully fledged scientist, the book ramps up the pace exposing the short-sightedness of governments, the political jockeying, deception and deceit. It’s a book highly recommended to those who care. To others afflicted with political timidity or apathy, they need to read it too. Let’s hope some politicians do too.
