Water Protestors Arrested In Manukau
Posted 28th March 2001
by Penny Bright

On Thursday, 22 March, International WorldWater Day, the day after the bogus public consultation for the Auckland Region Water Review ended - People's Option Water Coalition members occupyied the Mayoral offices at Manukau City Council. At 2.00pm, five members walked into the third floor of the Manukau City Council building, and padlocked chains around the handles of doors which allowed public access into the Mayoral offices. Staff were told why we were there, that it was a peaceful protest, and they had no reason to worry.

Staff were still able to move in and out of the Mayoral offices via a back stairway - that is how the Police got access and eventually arrested Meredydd Barrar and myself for trespass, after we refused to remove the padlocked chains from the doors and leave voluntarily. We had asked for the City Manager to organise a meeting with members of the Auckland Region Water Steering Group so we could put to them (again) that the 'public' consultation period be extended and that the People's Option be equally included for the PUBLIC to consider. The City manager offered a deputation to address the next meeting of the Manukau City Council - which was accepted.

Why Occupy?

To make a very strong stand on International World Water Day against the spread of commercialised water services and user charges. Manukau City Council would benefit from the law changes that the Auckland Region Water Review is trying to promote to enable SABU's to introduce user-charges for wastewater. We wanted to alert the public to the fact that the Auckland Region Water Review is trying to spread user charges for wastewater across the Auckland region by getting councils to work together calling for the law to be changed to allow Stand Alone Business Units (S.A.B.U.s) to introduce user charges for wastewater without having to set up a Local Authority Trading Enterprise (L.A.T.E.) like Metrowater. The legislative framework timing is tight. In June, the Labour Alliance Coalition Government is reviewing the Local Government Act and Rating Powers Act, so, that is why the Auckland Region Water Review has worked so hard to prevent a non-commercialised option being put before the public to consider, and have worked to undermine attempts by the more progressively-minded Councillors to equally include the People's Option for PUBLIC (not just Council) consideration, and extend the public consultation period. Manukau City Council, with such a law change, would be able to introduce user charges for wastewater.

Poverty and ill health in Manukau will spread if user charges spread for wastewater.

This is a Council which has some of the poorest people in New Zealand, and third world child diseases which are linked to poverty. Water is critical to sanitation and health. This is a Council which in one year, disconnected the water of over 2000 households for non-payment of water bills. If poverty is the reason for being unable to afford to pay their water bills - what would happen if user charges for wastewater were introduced, and families in South Auckland were expected to pay the $300.00 every three months that many families in Auckland City are now paying for water services under Metrowater? The theme of International World Water Day was water and health. No user charges! .

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