Clean water campaigners believe the quality of New Zealand's fresh water is nearing crisis level.
It comes after a herd of cattle was pictured polluting a North Canterbury Lake.
The cattle were back on dry land well away from Lake Taylor today, but it was a picture taken by a camper over the New Year period that prompted Environment Canterbury (ECan) to pay a visit to cattle's owners.
"It's not good practice to have stock in the water," says ECan consents and compliance manager Marty Mortiaux.
The evidence of their presence on or near the water's edge is obvious.
The area, north of Christchurch, is a popular camping spot.
Businessman Hugh Fletcher and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias are majority owners of the 5000-hectare Lakes High Country station. 3 News was ordered off the property when we approached for comment.
Mr Fletcher had earlier admitted he lets the cattle into the lake on hot days, but their access is not continuous. ECan says it's still not allowed.
"We do have situations where it's allowed, and it is in extensive farming situations where there is low stock ratios, but they have to be in the high country to be exempt, and this situation falls just out of that," says Mr Mortiaux.
Allowing cattle in the lake is breaking regional rules and comes with an instant $750 fine and, in worst-case scenarios, prosecution.
Federated Farmers doesn't condone what happened.
"This is something that, while the reasons why this particular farmer has done it, it's not the best thing to do at the time if you've got alternatives you should use them," says North Canterbury Federated Farmers president Frank Brenmuhl.
"We get more and more reports of this happening, so I think it needs to be dealt to pretty firmly," says Bryce Johnson, Fish and Game chief executive.
Clean water conservationists touring the country's waterways say there's stock in water all over the country and it's a crisis.
"We're seeing regularly that stock have access to rivers," says Marnie Prickett, a Choose Clean Water tour spokeswoman. "We're seeing that New Zealanders everywhere are not able to use the rivers in the way that they were previously. They're not able to swim in a lot of places; they're not able to catch the same kind of fish that they use to."
ECan says it can't patrol all lakes at all times, and relies on the public.
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