Press Release 30th August 2007-08-29

Anti-Water Meter Campaign Upper Hutt City

Say no to water meters and the commercialisation of our water!

Upper Hutt Chamber of Commerce raised the issue of Water Meters being put back on to the Councils agenda on environmental grounds. Recently the The mayor,Wayne Guppy, has categorically stated that Water Meters are not on the council agenda.

However, in 2009 as part of the two-yearly review water meters will again be looked at as part of the council’s long-term planning. This means councillors elected this year could make a decision to install meters before a further election.

This Election we need to ensure that the councillors we elect fully reflect the views of the citizens of Upper Hutt.

Two years ago 250 submissions were received opposing the idea of the installation of water meters for all residential housing in 2006 at a cost of over $4 Million. However, the councillors’ vote against installing was dangerously narrow – six votes to five.
The tight margin of the vote did not reflect the level of public opposition to water meters.

The public needs to know where candidates stand on meters and the Commercialisation of water. Meters are the first step towards the commercialisation of our water supply and we need only look at the performance of Auckland’s MetroWater and Papakura’s United Water to see what the future holds for the citizens of Upper Hutt if our water is commercialised for profit.

Water conservation is an important issue, but the answer lies in education, not the commercialisation of our water supply.

Water is not a commodity to be bought and sold by those who can afford it. Charging for water hits the poorest hardest and denies people one of the most basic things they need for a decent, healthy life. We don’t need companies making profits out of water. We all need water and should have free access to it as a human right.

Say No this election and vote for candidates who oppose the installation of water meters and the eventual commercialisation of Upper Hutt’s water Supply.

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