Fight against privatization of water via the Ruataniwha dam

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Fight against privatization of water via the Ruataniwha dam

Pauline Tangiora, ambassador to The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers and Earth Charter Commissioner, New Zealand 

The year following the Wings for Water Dialogue on 21 March 2013 and World Water Day 22 March 2013 in the Netherlands has gone so quickly. Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, we are having the biggest fight against privatization of water via the Ruataniwha dam, envisaged  by run off from a river. Because of intensive farming in Hawkes Bay and the high agriculture production, this proposal to have investors to provide the capital to build this dam and then sell the water, is repugnant to many.
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Kunstfoto’s van José Veugen en Yvonne Halvens

At the moment the environmental court is deciding whether this should  go ahead. It’s been opposed by so many people and groups and it has taken so much energy to stop this as well as trying to educate the public  on the preciousness of water and the  spiritual responsibility of caring  for water for future generations. We believe that planting trees and having tanks or small dams on farms is more sustainable. As you can see these many months in the follow up of Wings for Water have been busy. Hoping all participants are well and in peace.

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