It would appear that Government or one of its ‘quangos' is intent on ‘regulating water supplies'. The previous Labour government also made moves in this direction!
I consider this to be a retrograde and dangerous step!
We already have ‘Watercare' servicing 1.4 million people in Auckland – one third of NZ's population, now the proposed ‘Land and Water Care Commission' – issuing from the Land and Water Forum made up from business, industry, Iwi and conservation groups seeks to control water supplies countrywide. Please note that it is only those that wield power who are in this group – the public at large are not consulted!
These people want fewer Council water and waste water utilities among other things.
There seems to be a current obsession with bigger and centralised organisation – the Auckland Super City being one and a soon to be redundant Eden Park Stadium. Larger, centralised units are easier to manipulate and control, even against public objections!
The danger will be obvious to anyone who follows world news and world trends!
Some 25-30 years ago water services in the UK were all privatised, resulting in a 3-4 fold increases and on-going increases in prices.
Transcontinental corporations are buying up urban water supply utilities in many third world countries.
Corporations exist to make a profit, not necessarily to provide a public service. Corporations are not philanthropic!
If NZ has ‘a new, overarching and collaborative National Land and Water Commission it will make it far easier for international corporations to bid for and purchase the complete NZ water supply system. Especially considering the parlous state of government and local government finances!
At school I learnt the ‘Rule of three'; man can live three weeks without food, three days without water and three minutes without air.
Apparently, with the current increase in world population there will soon be a severe shortage of clean, drinkable water. There is already talk of ‘Water Wars.'!
Allow profit orientated corporations to purchase and control our water supplies and they will control our lives – and deaths!
R Jordan, Tauranga.