Following our message of Friday re the poll on Auckland's water services, the poll has now been removed. The poll was run on the "Water New Zealand" website - the site claiming to be "A Gateway to the New Zealand Water Industry".
http://www.waternz.co.nz/

Poll Results from the site - Poll ran May to August 2000 Results How Should Auckland's Water Be Run?

Don't know / none of these. (78%) With one supplier for the whole system. (16%) As it is. (3%) Watercare plus say three corporatised retailers. (1%)

66 total votes "This poll attracted very few votes for a long time and then a lot on 'don't / know none of these'.(sic) It seems some voters knew what they didn't want! "

* These results are pasted from the site and their comment above at least indicates that the pollsters recognise that opposition to commercialisation and privatisation of water services is not the same as "don't know".

In fact, up until last Friday there had been only about 10 votes received in total over a three month period - "a long time" according to Water New Zealand.. Following our Water Pressure Group message, there were over 40 votes cast in two days - in relation to the previous interest the poll had received, a veritable tidal wave of opinion against "market" reform.

QUESTION FOR POLL ORGANISERS - Considering the poll had been there "for a long time", how come they have decided to pull it now, before others who have received our message have had time to read and respond by voting?

OUR ANSWER? - In our opinion it was because they decided to cut off the deluge of public opinion (as opposed to "industry" opinion) which runs against the intended outcomes of their poll.

To those who read our message and acted promptly - thanks for your input - the Water Pressure Group will be referring to this poll result in the future. __________________________ Keep an eye on the "Water New Zealand" site - currently they carry an article on the Home Page which indicates that CHRISTCHURCH WATER IS ALSO TARGETED FOR REFORM titled: "August 2000: Merge Christchurch Water & Wastewater, Contract Out Operations and Save $4m - Consultants report. More" . . . http://www.waternz.co.nz/

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NEW POLL -

Should There be a Water Customer Ombudsman? record your vote now - http://www.waternz.co.nz/

Regards Jim Gladwin & Penny Bright Media spokespersons

Rose Hollins for The Water Pressure Group http://www.water-pressure-group.org.nz/ email: Water Pressure Group PO Box 19764 Auckland 7 New Zealand Ph / Fax 64 9 828 4517 Mobile: 025 2666 552 ______________________________

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