March 31, 2017
NZ water should be for Kiwi’s. Full stop.
NZ water should be for Kiwi's. Full stop.
WILLIE JACKSON OPINION
What is going on with our water?
There is no resource more precious and valuable to the people and its land than water, yet on almost every front our rivers and lakes are under attack. Farming continues to pollute our rivers for more milk powder and greedy overseas interests effectively steal our water free and make millions in profit from it.
What's the response from the Environment Minister Nick Smith to all of this? Why he just rewrites the pollution standards so that water which could make you sick is now called 'swimmable'.
Kiwi's need to get angry about our water and they need to get angry now.
We know on a planet that's becoming overcrowded and heating up that water will become a scarce resource, we are seeing this occur around the world right now, so who should benefit from our vital water supply is a critical issue we need to confront this election.
We need to make water an election issue because right now we are failing our water which damages the present and the future. It is not good enough that polluters can just flush their waste away into our water supply and there be no consequences.
It is not good enough that rich overseas companies can effectively steal hundreds of thousands of litres of water per day for a pittance in return and that be acceptable.
It is not good enough that we can just rewrite the definition of 'swimmable' and that be considered anything other than a blatant falsehood.
The Government says it's too difficult to charge for water and that's why nothing can be done.
I say nonsense. They also say no one owns the water but again I say nonsense. In fact Maori groups and iwi who have made water claims against the crown must think that anyone is allowed to own water apart from Maori! I would prefer to listen to the view of former high court judge Eddie Durie who says everyone owns the water and there is a public interest.
Here's the solution, and it's a really simple one, New Zealand water for Kiwi's first. Simple.
We should not only be stopping any expansion of water taking, we should be stopping what is currently being taken now. This water is our nation’s birth right and allowing it to be abused and robbed like it is now is a slap in the face to our future children.
What future are we leaving for our kids if they can't swim or drink from their own rivers and streams? What does that say about us as a people and about the leaders we follow if we allow such environmental vandalism to occur? New Zealanders need to become the priority here, not the wealthy vested interests of those who benefit from stealing and polluting our water. Its time now for Kiwis to protest over this enough is enough.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com