pn965. The Water Problem and Issues for Democracy

Is the choice really that strightforward?

This week's local Kapi-Mana News has a most informative article by Nicholas Boyack on one aspect of our "three waters" problem whose receipt by political parties and the general public raises wider—and much deeper— issues. First the problem; then the issues.

The Problem

Wellingtonians, which includes those living in the city, Upper and Lower Hutt and Porirua-Kapiti, are being urged to reduce water consumption or face severe restrictions. The recent dry weather has left water levels at an all time low.

The region's drinking water comes from the Wainuiomata catchment, Te AwaKairanga/Hutt rivers, and an aquifer under Lower Hutt. Years of underfunding and neglect by Councils has resulted in Wellington Water currently having to fix 2,758 pipe leakages. Last month it managed to at least temporarily fix 525. Chief Water adviser Laurence Edwards says that "The region is losing the equivalent of 27 Olympic swimming pools a day." And, given present funding allocations, the situation can only get worse even if global warming and the "mingling" of storm, waste and drinking water (see previous post pn963) are not included.

Issues

Our new Prime Minister's backtrack on Three Waters legislation, applauded by Bryce Edwards as a necessary political move to win voter support (see pn 964) highlights the deeper issue. Labour is to be less concerned with "ideological pet projects" (such as fixing our water problems) and more about "delivering the things that matter to the public" such as the cost of living - because this is what the public want.

Yet the reality is that the waters problem needs to be fixed and new legislation is needed to fix it. Water is neither ideological nor a pet project. It has only been made to seem so politicians can use the issue for their own objectives and seeking re-election. This is a central dilemma of democracy.

A choice has to be made between alternatives: press ahead with needed reforms and risk losing the next election, or abandon the reforms and hope to win the next election. 

One should, of course, seek to educate the public so that they can see the benefit of your proposals and support them but often time, circumstance, the media and the opposition, with their own agendas, do not permit.

What can be done about it? I have absolutely no idea but a close look at the role of the media could be a place to start. This again implies controls. But how can you ensure balanced and informed news items and discussion (which at present is sdaly lacking) without them? It seem that true, or truer, democracy, can only exist with restrictions.

Labour has put the "ideological" Three Waters legislation, the so-called "hate" Bill, the TV/broadcasting media Bill and co-goverance —all of which concern democracy —on hold and is to ask the Law Commission for its recommendations.

I wonder how many more leaks there will be before they start to fix them.

-- ACW

Today's 1News. People have been vomiting due to water pollution in Murupara in the Bay of Plenty.