Large rally protests over water

Thousands of people turned out yesterday for the biggest protest in Christchurch's Cathedral Square in years, Peter Beck, the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, said.

The Our Water Our Vote rally drew a cross-section of demonstrators, who mixed with MPs, Christchurch City councillors and sacked Environment Canterbury (ECan) councillors.

In March, the Government rushed legislation through Parliament replacing ECan's councillors with commissioners.

At the same time, rules governing Canterbury's water-conservation orders were weakened in what critics say was pandering to private irrigation interests and farmers.

Environment Minister Nick Smith, who helped appoint the commissioners, last night asked Canterbury to give them a chance.

"The Government had little choice but to intervene if it wanted Canterbury's water issues addressed," he said.

"The Government shares many of the concerns of the protesters about unmanaged growth of dairying, problems with water quality, and the drawn-out debates over water storage.

"The commissioners are the best hope of improving Canterbury's water management and the people of Canterbury should give them a fair go to get on with the job," Smith said.

Speakers at yesterday's rally decried a loss of democracy.

Beck said the commissioners were being watched and the community demanded transparency and openness.

He also took a swipe at dairy farming, saying dairying and a sustainable economy were "poles apart from one another".

Robin Judkins, organiser of the Coast to Coast multisport race, said the Government's move was "autocracy".

"We've had two basic rights taken from us – clean water and the ability to vote who represents us on this issue."

Christchurch student Morgan Waru, 17, said she wanted Canterbury's rivers to stay as they were, instead of being polluted for "quick money".

Livestock farmer Brian Deans, of Coalgate, said economic progress was needed and more of the Canterbury Plains should probably be irrigated, but dairying was not the best use of the land.

Police said yesterday's event was orderly and peaceful, a far cry from the slogan-chanting anger shown to Prime Minister John Key in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Other speakers included Central Otago poet Brian Turner and mountaineer Lydia Bradey, of Wanaka.

Our Water Our Vote member Chris Todd, Forest & Bird's South Island manager, was delighted with the turnout.

"It's great to see a large cross-section of people out there saying they're not prepared to stand by while our commons of our rivers, the protections on these rivers, are taken away – essentially privatised for the benefit of a few.

Protester Seth Wagoner, of Christchurch, said he was shocked at how quickly democracy was taken away and he was showing solidarity with the environment.

Labour MP Brendon Burns said the variety of protesters at the rally showed the Government the issue would not go away.

"The Government must recognise it got it wrong."

Former ECan chairman Sir Kerry Burke was astonished at the turnout and said protesters were supporting the democratic process and resource management rights.

A cairn made of rocks from South Island rivers will remain in Cathedral Square until regional councillors are elected again.

Yesterday's rally followed a national day of action on Saturday against water privatisation.

Critics say reforms to the Local Government Act 2002 let councils contract out supply and management of water supply for 35 years, up from 15 years, and will take water from communities.

- © Fairfax NZ News