Manukau Water Pressure Group
2 Hilltop Rd, Manukau. pH 262 2743 email paulteio@hotmail.com

FROM: Paul Teio (Spokesperson)
PRESS STATEMENT

Over 60 people attend public meeting to demand a best water first policy for Manukau(saying no to Waikato water).

Speakers: DR Joel Cayford North Shore City Councillor, Nandor Tancos MP, Penny Bright (Auckland Water Pressure Group), Meredydd Barrar (Citizens Against Privatisation), Ian Burgess (Manukau Water Pressure Group), Roslyn Peterson and Annie King both Manukau residents.

The meeting was appalled by the way Manukau City council has ignored the concerns of residents by voting to allow Waikato water to flow through their taps. It was resolved to picket the MCC’s full council meeting on the 25th July 5pm. Anger was expressed when Paul Teio read out a letter from Colin Dale, Manukau City Manager, refusing the opportunity to present a petition to the council at this meeting. Members of the community will demand the right to be heard at the meeting.

Unanimous resolution passed pledging not to pay water bills.

Penny Bright presented some new information to the meeting received from Watercare under the Official Information Act. The documentation clearly proved that many of the tests carried out on contaminants present in the Waikato river were done at laboratories that have no official accreditation. Also Watercare carried out many of the tests themselves. Furthermore, some tests were not carried out at all because adequate facilities do not exist in New Zealand. Health officials colluded in this and allowed the tests to be cancelled. (For more info contact Penny Bright 846 9825). Manukau City councillors have been informed of this. If they do not act they stand condemned of exposing the community to serious health risks.

Meredydd Barrar said “If Manukau City council cannot guarantee the highest water quality then citizens should act in kind by not paying their water bills”.

The full text of the resolution follows:
To The Mayor and Manukau City Councillors.

We demand that Manukau City Council adopt a best raw water first policy, using Waikato water only in cases of emergency. We ask that MCC representatives on Watercare’s shareholders committee be directed to pursue this policy.

We also demand that MCC’s representatives be directed to advocate a change in Watercare’s statement of corporate intent. So that it minimizes the risk of contaminants entering drinking water supplies through the establishment and operation of a public health risk management plan. Which prioritizes the use of the cleanest raw water sources prepared in accordance with the Ministry of Health “How to prepare and develop public health risk management plans for drinking water supplies” guidelines.
We demand that MCC fund water services through a progressive rating system that distributes the cost of water in a more equitable way.
We hereby pledge not to pay our water bills until MCC reflect through legislation all of the above.

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