METROWATER'S INCREASED USER-CHARGES
INCREASE SOCIAL INEQUITY.
Interview with Jim Gladwin,
spokesperson for Auckland's Water Pressure Group

Large families on low incomes who need to use more water will be hardest hit under Metrowater's new tariff which substantially increases user-charges for water and waste-water services. "The supply of water is an essential public service which should be affordable. People who NEED to use more water should not face crippling bills. Neither should they have to become means-tested charity cases and apply for "extended rates rebates" to cover this most basic human need.

By supporting increased user-charges the Auckland City Council increases misery and social inequity. IS THIS FAIR?" asks the Water Pressure Group in a leaflet which is being distributed to 120,000 Auckland City households. "We note with interest that Metrowater, in their large publication entitled 'What's the price of a clean beach', do not include an example of a low income, high water-use family. Metrowater know full well that their conservation advice "Using only the water you need makes sense. It keeps your water bill down and it's better for the environment", is useless advice for large households, many of whom are living together to help make ends meet, and are well aware of how to conserve and budget.It is surely painfully obvious that a household with many people are going to NEED to use more water than a household with fewer people, and why should they be penalised financially for that?" "We also note that Metrowater's examples do not compare that which people have been paying under the old tariff with new tariff charges.

When you compare the actual (real) figures, you will find that the bills people face will actually be a lot higher than Metrowater's figures suggest (based on adding increased prices to the old tariff)." stated Water Pressure Group media spokespersons Penny Bright and Jim Gladwin. "Reducing fixed systems charges on water and wastewater, while increasing user-charges, has shifted the burden of payment from the poorer sections of the community who use less water (eg: low income people living on their own such as pensioners), to those who need to use more, such as large families. The only winners in the situation remain the very wealthy, who enjoyed large tax cuts (rates) in 1997 when Metrowater was established." they continued. "Users charges in the name of 'fairness', are one the most effective con-jobs yet that the new right has used to bluff ordinary people." Penny Bright and Jim Gladwin said, "The only solution to the social inequity caused by commercialised water and user pays remains the abolition of Metrowater and an end to the user pays regime The Water Pressure Group continues to build the wastewater bills boycott as the best way to see the company dumped."

P Bright & J. Gladwin, Media Spokespersons The Water Pressure Group, www.water-pressure-group.org.nz, email:jimg@pl.net PO Box 10046, Dominion Road, Auckland. Ph / Fax 0064 09 828 4517.