Hi people!

As you know, the Water Pressure Group is standing a candidate in the Avondale / Mt Roskill by-election, to use the by-election as a platform to push our campaign of civil disobedience to get rid of Metrowater and stop the commercialised model for water services spreading throughout the Auckland reion, via the Auckland Regional Water Review.

A big vote for the Water Pressure Group candidate would act as an opinion poll, to show the level of opposition that exists to Metrowater and the threat of privatisation - but voting alone is not going to get rid of the commercialised water model with its user-charging regime that leaves low and medium income households subsidising the rates of the very wealthy through crippling bills for water services.

The majority of politicians who were elected promising to abolish Metrowater have mislead the public and sold out. So, we have no alternative but to take matters into our own hands and put Metrowater out of business ourselves.

The Auckland City Council were warned, two years in a row during the public submission process. Water Pressure Group members took water meters to the public submission process and stated that if the Council did not keep their promises and abolish Metrowater, we would be forced to 'unplug' Metrowater ourselves.

That time has come.

Last night, at a Water Pressure Group public meeting held in the Avondale Community Centre, some of those who have been hit the hardest by Metrowater's new 'fairer' tariff, large Polynesian families, who are paying over $300.00 every three months, enthusiastically practised unrestricting and removing water meters. A truckload of water meters dumped outside the Town Hall will send the Council a message that they cannot ignore. The Water Pressure Group will make sure people have water. We have a proven track record! Metrowater did their worst when they dug up the streets back in January, and we severely humiliated them when we dug up the streets, reconnected the pipes, and poured concrete over the fittings to reinforce the point! That was the worst they could do, from the plumbing point of view - and we undid it. Since January, there have been no further 'street did-ups".

Remember, Metrowater's 'contract',( and all those matters relating to it), is still before the High Court. More importantly, where are the laws that make the politicians keep their promises?

When thousands of Auckland City households boycott their wastewater bill payments, we will financially cripple Metrowater, instead of them financially crippling those who NEED to use more water. It is only the determined direct action of thousands of households that is going to work. If we don't fight back - we will lose our water, just as we have lost our electricity, phones and public transport services to the giant money-hungry corporations. To take direct action, by boycotting your wastewater bill payment and returning your water meter to Council, is the most responsible thing YOU can do as a citizen to help safeguard our most essential public service - water- for future generations. It's something EVERY household that feels strongly about this issue can do, and needs to do. We must ACT as a community for the common good. We are doing this for the community.

So, help to get the message out! Word of mouth is best! Talk to your families, neighbours, friends, workmates - get that grapevine working!

Help to distribute our Water Pressure Group leaflet which calls for people to back up their vote with direct action, and shows what part of the Metrowater bill NOT to pay, with a letter that can be cut off and sent to Metrowater with the next bill.

35,000 leaflets will be available at our Water Pressure Group meeting tonight at the Fickling Centre, along with maps etc. Please come along and help . We need you! (Fickling centre, under the Mt Roskill public library, corner of Mt Eden and Mt Albert Rds, 3 Kings. Meeting starts at 7.30pm.)

WE URGENTLY NEED MONEY!

No corporate sponsorships or donations for the WPG! The leaflets alone cost nearly $2000.00. We intend to put out more hoardings that call for voting to be backed up with direct action, calling for people to boycott their wastewater bills and return their water meters to Council. But we need money to do this!!!!

Please give generously, and encourage others to as well. If everyone gives some time and some money - the load is spread and by working together WE WILL WIN!!!!!

(Make out your cheques to The Water Pressure Group, and send to PO Box 19764 Avondale Auck.)

Cheers!

Penny Bright

Media Spokesperson for Water Pressure Group.

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