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Rethink needed on water allocation in New Zealand
3 February 2012
Waikato researcher says rethink
needed on water allocation in New Zealand
A Waikato
University academic warns that New Zealand needs to rethink
its water allocation system, or risk stifling economic and
cultural development.
University of Waikato researcher
and assistant lecturer Jagdeep Singh-Ladhar says the
country’s “first in, first served” approach to water
allocation and the way local government deals with water
allocation issues needs to change.
Singh-Ladhar is
currently undertaking a comparative study for the Centre for
Environmental, Resources and Energy Law (CEREL), examining
the law and policy around water allocation in New Zealand
and Australia.
“Australia has had to deal with its
water problems a lot sooner than we have because they have a
dry climate, whereas we have a lot more water to go around
so we’ve managed to get along with the old system to
date,” says Singh-Ladhar.
“When we adopted all
the laws of Britain we also took on ideas about the
environment that seem to prevail in law and policy today.”
Under the Resource Management Act, requests for water
are considered in order of application, regardless of other
applications or their potential value, says Singh-Ladhar. As
development needs increase the “first in, first served”
approach will limit development in areas where water
shortages are common or a catchment is fully allocated.
While more research needs to be done, Singh-Ladhar
says any alternative to the current system is a step in the
right direction.
“We made a start in 2009 with the
Land and Water Forum which brought together stakeholders
including environmental, industry and community groups to
focus on the issues affecting water.
“And now the
law must develop in a way that is responsive to local and
global issues affecting the economy and people’s
wellbeing.
“Australia’s path to solving water
allocation included the development of markets and other
initiatives such as the Murray Darling Basin Plan released
in 2011. Options for New Zealand will have to suit our
climate, culture and economic development", says
Singh-Ladhar.
CEREL was launched late last year, and
brings together expertise in energy, natural resources and
environmental law.
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