By Juliet Speedy
Residents and regional councillors from around Canterbury today rallied in the central city against what is becoming the biggest issue the city has faced in years: water.
The World Water Day rally was to try and stop the Government taking over control of the city’s water problems and to highlight the problems themselves.
It was an issue that all were united on until National MP Nikki Wagner took the stage.
The level of feeling was high after Ms Wagner tried to defend a recent report by former National Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt Creech recommending disestablishing Environment Canterbury and appointing a government-appointed commissioner to run a regional water authority.
“We have made huge gains in the last few years and that's all at risk, it's all at risk of being thrown out,” says Environment Canterbury councillor Jane Demeter.
“We're about to have the baby thrown out with the bath water.”
That sentiment was backed by Canterbury residents concerned about their dirty water.
Peter Hill’s family got sick from drinking water from their local well.
“I think it's disgusting and I think we need to do something about it,” he says.
“But I don't think we're going to do something about it by having someone from government tell Canterbury how to clean up its act.”
The issue of water and dirty dairying is fast becoming the one of biggest issues the Canterbury region has faced.
Today's rally comes after dairy farmers were criticised last week following a multi-agency report that says they're becoming worse polluters.
Ms Wagner says she wasn't surprised at reaction to her today.
“Of course I was expecting that,” she says. “These are the extreme end of people who are interested in water, there's all grades of interest and these people have got an agenda.”
It's now up to the Government to set the future agenda for how to solve the looming crisis.
3 News