Fresh water 'more precious than oil'

Wars in the future will be fought over water, not oil, Green MP Kennedy Graham believes, with Canterbury already putting excessive stress on its supply.

He was speaking at yesterday's launch, in Timaru, of the Green Party's proposed billion dollar stimulus package, which will be presented in 15 towns and cities nationwide.

About 40 people listened and talked to Mr Graham at the launch in the Caroline Bay Community Lounge yesterday.

The proposed stimulus package focuses on saving the economy and the environment at the same time. "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the the environment. If the parent company crashes so does the economy," Mr Graham said.

Water was quick to come up, with Mr Graham saying future wars would be fought over fresh water, not oil. "In New Zealand, Canterbury is going to feel it the most as it is already a nearly 100 per cent allocated zone."

An audience member said the stimulus package was simply redistributing wealth and queried why, if fresh water was going to be in such short supply, could it not be stored.

"I know how much water runs off my farm everyday."

Mr Graham said the Greens were not trying to create a socialist policy and that scientists still did not know the impact of fresh water being stored.

Green Party co-leader Dr Russel Norman said cleaning up New Zealand's rivers and streams was a good initiative.

"We've got a pollution problem due to livestock and farm run-off. It's a threat to our food and tourism markets and our clean green brand, plus it means our kids can't swim in the local river.

"The Green Party's proposal would see fencing and planting projects around New Zealand to provide jobs and support rural businesses such as fencing suppliers and plant nurseries.

"We estimate that by spending $200 million a year we create nearly 5000 jobs and that our streams and rivers could be protected in just nine years."

- © Fairfax NZ News