Water Action Movement, Whanganui

"Water is a taonga". "Our waters are not for sale". "Leave the water to run free". These are just a small sample of big posters that greeted 300 people who gathered at a public meeting on 12 October 2022 in the Whanganui War Memorial Hall. People came together to voice their opinion on the granting of resource consent to water bottling company Aquifer 182 which wants to extract 750,000 litres of groundwater or 37 million litres of water per annum to bottle water and to make ice. This company wants to sell both locally and internationally, operating six days a week, 12 hours a day.

Packed Public Meeting

The meeting was a huge success. There was standing room only. People from all walks of life were there but the majority were mainly young and Māori. Everyone was invited to speak no longer than two minutes. More than 60 people took the opportunity. Almost all who spoke opposed the resource consent and urged direct action. "We want to occupy," a speaker shouted. The overwhelming majority said that our communal waters must be protected.

Aquifer 182 must be stopped. Another suggestion called for a moratorium, a national strategy, to prevent the commercialisation of water throughout the whole country. Many newly elected district councillors were there. The new Mayor had commitments elsewhere. Māori Party Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and National MP Harete Hipango were also there watching the drama unfold. Both have strong links to Whanganui.

Who Is Bottle Company Aquifer 182?

Bottle company Aquifer 182 was co-founded by Whanganui man Geoff Murdoch, one of three local directors, together with Marshall Tangaroa and Declan Rogers. Collectively, they hold 50% of the company's shares. The other 50% is owned by an unnamed offshore shareholder who Mr Murdoch refused to name, citing commercial sensitivities. "Who gives consent to an anonymous party that owns 50% of this business" said Whanganui Iwi leader Ken Mair. "Surely this is madness".

Wai 671

In 1997 Ken Mair lodged Wai 671 with the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of Tupoho, the local Iwi. It relates to groundwater rights in the Whanganui area and asserts that groundwater is a taonga protected by Article 2 of the Treaty of Waitangi, guaranteeing Tupoho rangatiratanga over the water in this area. The claim was submitted because of concerns around the commercialisation of water. This matter is still to be dealt with.

Resource Consent Granted by Manawatu/Whanganui Regional Council

Aquifer 182 was granted resource consent by the Manawatu/Whanganui Regional Council to extract water from an artesian bore on a former milk processing plant on Anzac Parade in Whanganui East, previously used by Fonterra and Kiwi Dairy Co-op Ltd. This site has three existing artesian bores, but only one will be used for bottling at this stage. Te Awa Tupua, the Whanganui River, is only 80m away from the plant.

33 Out Of 37 Submissions Opposed

Despite the weight of submissions against the proposal, 33 out of 37, the resource consent was granted by independent Commissioners Christine Foster (Chairwoman) and Vicki Morrison-Shaw. According to the Commissioners this proposal would bring economic and social benefits to Whanganui, including employment, demand for delivery services and reusing an existing facility.

Concerns were raised included the mauri of the water being affected by the extraction. Aquifer 182 said the High Court and the Environmental Court concluded that there was "no loss of mauri from the water as the water remained within the broad global concept of the water cycle and returned to Papatuanuku irrespective of where it is used". The loss of mana in this case is the way in which the water will be used and by whom.

$5 Million Dollar Investment

The Commissioners acknowledge that Geoff Murdoch had worked respectfully with all sectors of the community and made fundamental changes to the original proposal. He had also demonstrated over a four-year period a genuine desire to work collaboratively with iwi and hapu for the benefit of all. The decision document stated the proposed groundwater abstraction would not physically affect Te Awa Tupua, the Whanganui River, and that the likelihood of a direct connection between the deep aquifer bore and the river flow would be very low. The company would offer workplace training for school students and provide water to marae during dry periods and encourage staff to use low-carbon transport. Mr Murdoch said the company would need a 23-year term to make his $5 million investment worthwhile.

"Effects Are Less Than Minor"

Mr Neil Thomas, consultant hydrogeologist on behalf of Horizons Regional Council, said (7/7/22) that the volumes applied for are considered reasonable and efficient, although more information could be provided to ensure that the allocation is consistent with the proposed use within a reasonable timeframe. Mr Thomas also said that the effects on the overall resource are expected to be less than minor; that stream depletion effects on surface waterways are expected to be less than minor; effects from saline intrusion are expected to be less than minor; effects on neighbouring bores are expected to be less than minor; overall, the effects on groundwater are expected to be less than minor.

According to the Commissioners' report: "The Applicant had demonstrated over a four-year period a genuine desire to work collaboratively with iwi and hapū for the benefit of all". The decision document stated the proposed groundwater abstraction would not directly physically affect Te Awa Tupua, that evidence confirms there is a low likelihood of a direct connection between the deep aquifer bore and the river flow of Te Awa Tupua.

Why We Oppose

As guardians of the River, it is impossible for us to abdicate our responsibility to care and protect the wellbeing of not only the River, but also the waters which come from its catchment. When Te Awa Tupua legislation was passed in 2017, there were immediate repercussions all over the world, thrusting Whanganui Iwi into the limelight. Groups and individuals came from all over the world to hear our story first-hand. Whanganui iwi's dogged persistence over many decades has been a source of inspiration for many communities in similar situations. Our opposition is about maintaining our mana, which we must continue in the name of those who battled all those many years ago now. We do not have the right to abdicate this responsibility.

Water in this country has been poorly administered. Three Waters reform programme, whatever permutations are eventually decided, won't fix it up overnight. Big cities like Auckland experience water shortages regularly, where demand exceeds supply. Smaller townships have also suffered. In August 2016 some 5,500 residents of Havelock North became ill with campylobacteriosis, 45 were hospitalised and three people died and an unknown number of residents continue to suffer health complications.

This case raised the question about the safety and security of all drinking water systems in the country. Increasingly, the supply of water will no longer be constant and, in some cases, there has not been enough oversight and impartiality. The February 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle exposed the poor infrastructure in Hawkes Bay. Readiness and connectivity have been found wanting.

A Global Water Crisis

The loss of mana in this case is the way in which the water will be used and by whom. In many parts of the world children die from dysentery and cholera, which are water diseases. Africa is plagued with droughts year after year. There is increased water stress on vulnerable agricultural systems. These factors, combined, threaten food security, human health and human safety. Food security is directly linked to agricultural crop yield. Human health is linked to climate change. Increased food insecurity accompanies malnutrition.

In addition, people are not able to practice good hygiene to protect themselves against pathogens, such as covid 19. If there is no reliable source of clean water available, children's education is threatened, as many children have to walk long distances to collect water daily. All of these factors come together and lead to a threat to human security. Lack of food security and access to clean water are known drivers of conflict. There is always the potential for an outbreak of violent conflict wherever people struggle to survive.

Selling Water Increases Inequality

Whanganui people are lucky. We are rich in water for the moment but it won't always be this way. We now have a company that wants to privatise this gift of nature, turning it into a commodity, subject to the laws of the market, tantamount to "stealing and confiscation", according to Ken Mair. There are some iwi members who support this application and that is their right. But they are in the minority. We have a social debt toward people who lack access to drinking water. Selling our water increases the great inequality that already exists.

Regional and local authorities should be enhancing conservation efforts, helping vulnerable populations, curbing pollution and raising public awareness, instead of transferring the control of our precious resources from the public sector to the private sector. Giving consent to a 50% ghost partner, which is what Aquifer 182 is doing, is gross negligence. The decisions we make today could be the difference between life and death for many poor people. Millions of people are forced to consume unsafe water because living without water is not an option. With every drop of water that falls into the hands of private interests, solutions to the global water crisis moves further and further from the public's grasp.

A Universal Human Right

Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world has a grave social debt towards those who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity. Greater scarcity of water will lead to an increase in the cost of food and the various products which depend on its use.

Some studies warn that an acute water shortage is just around the corner unless urgent action is taken. The environmental repercussions could affect millions of people. It is conceivable that the control of water by large transnational businesses may become a major source of conflict in the not too distant future. The wider Whanganui community has spoken. Our waters are not for sale. We must look after what we have. Let us protect what we have for future generations. Our waters. Our future.