Water Pressure Group NetNews

Councillor Maire Leadbeater

19\08\99

   You will note if your City Scene arrives this weekend that there is no
Councillor's Opinion piece -  I got censored!

"because it is about national policy not local" was the argument - it even
got sent down to the Auditor General in Wton for an opinion. I did one
revision to try to draw the links between what I was saying and local govt
a bit clearer - but to no avail.
So you can have a read;

Auckland residents will be footing much  of the bill for the APEC leaders'
forum  through their taxes and rates.  Local Government New Zealand
advocates that councils take seriously the APEC economic agenda by
contracting out and encouraging private investment.

However, there is a compelling case against the APEC agenda of direct
relevance to those of us  who believe local government should continue to
have a hands-on role in the provision of essential services such as water,
power and waste disposal.

Opponents of the Metrowater LATE fear that its commercialised profit-driven
structure will lead to privatisation.  With reason - the Business Round
Table is pushing for an end to "political control" of the water supply.
Papakura's franchise arrangement with United Water has stimulated keen
interest from the 4-5 biggest transnational  water companies seeking
potential opportunities for significant profits in New Zealand.

Auckland's  indomitable "Water Pressure" group has its parallels in Europe
where campaigners oppose high user pays charging.  In England ten regional
companies are reaping substantial shareholder dividends while poor people
risk disease by limiting their water use.  Ireland's campaign recently
scored a victory after direct actions, including patrols to prevent
disconnections.

These international similarities are no coincidence .   APEC members
operating  through institutions such as the World Trade Organisation - now
chaired by Mike Moore- are driving for world-wide free trade and investment
by 2020.

"APEC means business" say its supporters.  When the foreign leaders are
here they will not even represent countries, just "economies".  However,
APEC is not a trading bloc with formal rules - it operates through regular
secret meetings of foreign ministers and officials.  The leaders'  meeting
that will paralyse Auckland is really a hugely expensive media side-show.

The vision of huge businesses operating in a borderless world, without
regulations and restrictions, is not for the faint-hearted.  The
transnational corporations have consolidated their wealth and influence -
some 750 global corporations now dominate the world economy and a third of
world trade takes place within branches of the same corporation.  The price
for developing countries has been a breakdown of traditional production and
agricultural systems and a descent into deepest poverty and historic levels
of joblessness.

New Zealand  also  has been transformed by a growing gap between rich and
poor, and  younger people cannot remember when we had a thriving clothing
industry or when the term "welfare state" had a proud ring.

One bright spot - Auckland City has declared its support for the rights of
those of us who will be taking part in peaceful protest.
(Phone: 849-3890)

Back to Press Page