New Zealanders take a stand against water privatisation

This Saturday, concerned citizens across New Zealand will protest against the privatisation of water.

"We believe that no-one should profit from water - it is a natural monopoly, a necessity of life, and a human right," said Maria McMillan, spokesperson for Right to Water.

The National Day of Action Against Privatisation is planned for June 12, 2010. Right to Water is just one of many groups that will be demonstrating outside at least twelve council offices from Whangarei to Dunedin to show our opposition to the selling-off of water services.

"The privatisation of water services is a real possibility now that the Local Government Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament," McMillan said.

The Bill allows councils to privatise water. They will be able to:

• Enter into contracts with private companies to run water services for up to 35 years (the current limit is 15 years) • Allow private companies to own and control water infrastructure for the duration of these contracts (the current legislation requires councils to retain ownership and control of water)

"While the government denies this is privatisation, the long-term leases the Bill allows for are, in fact, the dominant model of water privatisation in the world. It is very rare for councils or governments to sell off the water asset entirely. Long term leases work in private companies favour as they can make profit from water while the public sector retains long-term costs and responsibility.

"Internationally the model that has been proposed is shown to lead to higher water costs, less accountability and reduced services. The global water industry is dominated by two mega companies Suez and Veolia. A subsidiary of Veolia is United Water and already active in New Zealand," McMillan said.

National Day of Action Against Privatisation events are so far planned for: Whangarei, North Shore City, Waitakere, Auckland City, Manukau City, Pukekohe, Hamilton, Kapiti Coast, Hutt City, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin. Please see list below for details and contacts.

Visit: http://www.righttowater.org.nz for more information.

ENDS

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