New Zealand's Minister of Building and Housing for the Environment Nick Smith.

(Phil Walter/Getty Images)

At a Glance

New Zealand's environment minister has been challenged to a fist fight by a frustrated environmentalist.The environmentalist invited the minister to duke it out in a Christchurch boxing ring.The loser would have to frolic in one of the country's most polluted swimming holes.

A New Zealand man took his passion for the environment to a whole new level by challenging the nation's environmental minister to a fist fight over water pollution policies.

Greg Byrnes, general manager of the Te Kohaka o Tuhaitara conservation trust, took out a newspaper ad challenging Nick Smith, minister of building and housing to the environment, to duke it out in a Christchurch boxing ring.The loser of thematch, the ad said, had to "frolic" in a local swimming hole near Christchurch that Byrnes says is polluted to the point that it is no longer fit for swimming.

The challenge comes as the government implements a that hopes to classify 90 percent of the country's rivers and lakes "swimmable" by 2040.

Bynes that "frustration by how farourpoliticiansseem to be from the common people" prompted him to challenge Smith.

The new policy announced last month has come under criticism, with environmentalists saying the 90 percent target may be met, but only by loweringstandards.Under the new policy, water that contains 540 parts E.Coli per 10milliliters would be consideredsafe. Previously, the measure was 260 parts E. Coliper 100 millimeters.

"You can't just change the rules halfway through and then tell us everything's gonna be OK," Byrnestold CBC.

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The government says the 540 figure aligns with standards set in the U.S. and Europe.

A spokesperson for Smith told the Canterbury Star the minister has to a fisticuff.

"Just between you and I and your listeners, it's probably a good thing," Byrnes told CBC. "He looks pretty wiry,actually, but maybe push comes to shove, I think I could probably take him."

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