If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
freshwater – water that has no salt
groundwater – water that is below the ground
bacteria – very small living things. Some bacteria cause illness or disease
routine (in this context, adjective) – happening regularly
contamination – when water or other substances are dirty and unsafe for people
nitrogen – a chemical element
fertiliser – something that is added to soil to help plants grow more successfully
urbanisation – the process in which towns and cities are built where there was countryside before
phosphorus – a chemical substance
visual clarity – how well you can see through water
rainfall – the amount of rain that falls on an area in a particular period of time
landslide – when earth or rocks fall down a hill
shrink – to become smaller
Note: E. coli, organic pollution, and nutrient enrichment are explained in the news story
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What does a new report indicate?
- Fill in the gaps: Between ____ and ____, E. coli was above the legal limit for drinking water at least once in ____ percent of ____ groundwater sites that were monitored.
- What can E. coli cause?
- What did people in some parts of Auckland and New Plymouth recently have to do?
- What did the report find about rivers?
- Fill in the gaps: Computer modelling estimated that 44 percent of New Zealand’s total river length was __________ for activities such as _____________.
- What are two positive indicators from the report?
- What is the impact of climate change on fresh water?
News story
Most people think New Zealand is clean and green. The country is marketed to tourists as “100% Pure”. However, a new report indicates that New Zealand’s freshwater is not very clean and is sometimes unsafe.
The report was prepared by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ. It showed that the quality of groundwater is becoming worse. Between 2019 and 2024, E. coli was above the legal limit for drinking water at least once in 45 percent of 998 groundwater sites that were monitored. This is serious because E. coli is a bacteria that can cause illness such as vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be particularly serious for babies, children, and the elderly. Recently, some parts of Auckland and of New Plymouth were under a boil water notice for a couple of days, because E. coli was found in the water during routine testing. People in those areas had to boil water that they wanted to use for drinking, brushing their teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food.
Another finding in the report was that many rivers are unclean and unsafe. Computer modelling estimated that 44 percent of New Zealand’s total river length was unsuitable for activities such as swimming. This is because of contamination from E. coli and other bacteria. In addition, between 2020 and 2024, 54 percent of river length showed moderate or severe organic pollution (that is, plant or animal waste) or nutrient enrichment (for example, nitrogen from agriculture and fertiliser). They come from both increased urbanisation and farming.
However, there were some positive indicators. Levels of phosphorus have declined at most monitored river sites and at some monitored lake sites. Visual clarity also improved in some rivers. It improved at 34 percent of river sites but worsened at 23 percent of sites.
The report also discussed the impact of climate change on freshwater. For example, increased extreme rainfall often causes landslides, leading to more soil entering waterways. Glaciers are shrinking, affecting rivers and groundwater. If you want to learn more about this issue, listen to Glaciers in New Zealand are melting from February.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. What does a new report indicate?
New Zealand’s freshwater is not very clean and is sometimes unsafe.
b. Fill in the gaps: Between 2019 and 2024, E. coli was above the legal limit for drinking water at least once in 45 percent of 998 groundwater sites that were monitored.
c. What can E. coli cause, and which groups are most at risk?
Illness such as vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be particularly serious for babies, children, and the elderly.
d. What did people in some parts of Auckland and New Plymouth recently have to do?
They had to boil water that they wanted to use for drinking, brushing their teeth, washing dishes, and preparing food.
e. What did the report find about rivers?
Many rivers are unclean and unsafe.
f. Fill in the gaps: Computer modelling estimated that 44 percent of New Zealand’s total river length was unsuitable for activities such as swimming.
g. What are two positive indicators from the report?
Levels of phosphorus have declined at most monitored river sites and at some monitored lake sites; visual clarity improved in some rivers.
h. What is the impact of climate change on fresh water?
Increased extreme rainfall often causes landslides, leading to more soil entering waterways. Glaciers are shrinking, affecting rivers and groundwater.