Historical Fragmentation Perhaps Biggest Hurdle to Water Management Reform

Rotorua, 23 September 2009

The challenge for those wanting more efficient water management systems, policies and structures will be to overcome not only the current fragmented approach but perhaps history itself.

Speaking at the opening of Water New Zealand’s annual conference in Rotorua this morning, political historian and commentator Dr Michael Bassett said that historically local government structures have not served water management well.

“It is a regret of mine that during my tenure as Minister of Local Government we failed to properly reform the rules regarding the provision of clean water and the treatment of waste water,” said Dr Bassett.

“Water is an increasingly valuable commodity and even though during the local government reforms of the 1980’s there was a move to produce a new regime for water – it never happened,” he said.

With 73 local utilities, 12 regional regulators and 11 government departments involved in managing New Zealand’s water systems, policies and structures Dr Bassett urged delegates at the conference to continue to push for a more efficient system.

“History suggests that fragmentation within local government and the services it manages is not new so a dedicated approach will be needed to effect change.

“For example by 1912 there were 457 local authorities in a country of a million people which included seven separate water districts. At that time the Liberal Government moved to rationalise local government – and failed!”

Over eleven hundred delegates, exhibitors and speakers have gathered in Rotorua for four days to explore an extensive range of issues as they relate to the effective management of what Water New Zealand’s CEO, Murray Gibb calls ‘our most valuable asset’.

Mr Gibb said that water was often treated as the “invisible” resource and few people appeared to understand the significant economic role it played.

“There is no one that the water debate does not affect and as a nation it is clear water, its future use and management will have a very significant impact on our prosperity.” He said.

[Water New Zealand is New Zealand’s largest representative water environment and industry organisation. This year’s annual conference theme is Water 2020 – From Fragmentation to Efficiency” and will look to debate and propose strategies for future proofing New Zealand’s water needs.]

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