Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Water charges needed to protect environment

17 March 2017

Water charges needed to protect environment

Protecting our finite and precious water resources should be the motivation for putting a charge on water, to ensure it is prudently and sustainably used, the Green Party said today.

“The reason we need a charge on the commercial use of water is to protect water, ensure the community and tangata whenua get a return from private use of a public resource, and help fund better land and water management,” said Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

National’s proposals to make it easier to trade water consents risk creating water barons and making it much harder to tackle the issues around over allocated aquifers and rivers.

“Paying a charge to regional councils or a central agency and tangata whenua that can then be cycled back into more sustainable land and water management and habitat restoration will help ensure water is treated as the finite and precious resource that it is.

“Tradeable water rights do not address the issue of ensuring the community and tangata whenua get a return, nor will they protect the environment.

“We’re pleased that the Government is hinting it may look at charging for water. But National’s failure to set strong bottom lines for water quality mean its plans are more likely to favour irrigators and heavy water users than protect our rivers and aquifers.

“Allowing water to be traded could lock tangata whenua out of a water market which would be a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“The Green Party in government will implement a charge that ensures water is treated as the finite and precious resource that it is, and ensures that our economy is based on long-term sustainability, not short-term exploitation,” said Ms Delahunty.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.