The Grey Power Federation is strongly opposed to any suggestion of privatising municipal reticulated water schemes.

All Governments have a fundamental duty to ensure every New Zealander has equal access to a good quality consistent supply of water. If the public/private partnership, proposed by Rodney Hyde and the National Government in the new local Govt bill, becomes legislation in effect council water could be in private hands for 35 years. To all intents and purposes they will be privatised.

The electricity reforms have disclosed clearly that privatised systems price essential commodities like power out of the reach of those on low or/fixed incomes.

Many superannuitants are in this category. Many cannot even afford to heat their homes to the World Health Organisation’s recommendations.

We do not want this sort of outcome to happen with water.

Miles Jackson

Zone 6 Director

Portfolio...Local Bodies

Grey Power Federation

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