PRIVATISED PAPAKURA WATER SERVICES UNDER ATTACK!

UNITED WATER is coming under pressure - four years after an unpopular privatisation deal gave two of the world's largest water companies a foothold into New Zealand, via a small township of 14,000 residences. Recently, almost 400 Papakura households have written to the Prime Minister pledging to refuse paying their water and wastewater bills. This has the Vivendi/RWE-Thames Water consortium worried, and most politicians in central and local government wringing their feeble hands even faster.

The Papakura Water Pressure Group was established earlier this year, and it is this community initiative that provides the scope for citizens to combine their weight against the privatisation of their water services (the United Water 30 year franchise agreement), and against politicians who put the interests of multinational corporations ahead of the people who elected them. ( see their website at: http://www.papakurawaterpressuregroup.pl.net )

UNITED WATER TRYING TO INTIMIDATE AND SINGLE OUT ONE HOUSEHOLD THIS WEDNESDAY

In a desperate effort to suppress this growing campaign, United Water has threatened to cancel the contract of a member of the Papakura Water Pressure Group - Peter Mathyssen - who is refusing to pay, and to permanently disconnect his household from the town supply. This is in spite of the fact that the United Water contract is with the Papakura District Council, and not with individual "customers", and despite the fact that Peter is disputing the terms of the contract United Water claim to have with him.

The Auckland Water Pressure Group offers solid support to our sister group, and we urge you to turn out to defend Peter -

WEDNESDAY MORNING - 1st AUGUST - 49 BELLFIELD ROAD, PAPAKURA WEDNESDAY MORNING - 1st AUGUST - 49 BELLFIELD ROAD, PAPAKURA WEDNESDAY MORNING - 1st AUGUST - 49 BELLFIELD ROAD, PAPAKURA

In Auckland City, the resolute work by our turn-on squads in restoring the supply of water to hundreds of citizens, has seen Metrowater Ltd back off and not cut off anyone since their futile blitz in January 2000. Restrictions still occur on a daily basis, but are easily reversed and usually done within a couple of hours of Metrowater's visit.

Our determination remains - we will not tolerate disconnections of water supplies to anyone! We will not stop until Metrowater is abolished and water services are un-commodified throughout New Zealand.

This Wednesday we will be showing our resolve again - this time in Papakura.

STAND THIS WEDNESDAY IN SUPPORT OF THE PAPAKURA WATER PRESSURE GROUP!!!

Jim Gladwin
for
The Water Pressure Group (Auckland)
http://www.water-pressure-group.org.nz/
PO Box 19764
Auckland 1007
New Zealand
Ph: 64 9 828 4517
Fax: 64 9 828 4593

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