Pee Kay: Local Water Done Well

My [Pee Kay] letter to Simon Watts

To: The Hon. Simon Watts

cc: Prime Minister Luxon, Deputy Prime Minister Seymour, Winston Peters, Katie Nimon MP, Catherine Wedd MP.

Dear Minister Watts,

I write to you as a New Zealand citizen, taxpayer and ratepayer who is deeply concerned at the inclusion of co-governance in local water services being implemented by councils through the Coalition Government’s plan to address New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges, Local Water Done Well.

Pee Kay: Local Water Done Well - part 2

A friend of a friend was offered a chance to attend a fundraising dinner where the special guest was Christopher Luxon.

“A small number of seats have unexpectedly become available for our fundraiser dinner event this Thursday, 26 March at 6pm featuring special guest the Leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon.”

Herewith is his, in my view, great response –

Geoff Parker: Matthew Tukaki is wrong - water is not sovereignty

Matthew Tukaki’s recent article “Wai Is Life” argues that because water is spiritually and culturally central to Māori identity, Māori must therefore exercise authority over water governance in New Zealand.

It is a seductive argument. It is also wrong.

Geoff Parker: Why Control of New Zealand’s Freshwater Matters to Us All

Freshwater is arguably New Zealand’s most vital shared resource, sustaining public health, food production, energy generation, and the environment. That is why any proposal for tribal control - whether in the South Island or nationwide - should concern every New Zealander, Māori and non-Māori alike.

This debate is often mischaracterised as being about “ownership.” It is not. The real issue is control: who decides how water is allocated, who may use it, under what conditions, and with what power of veto. Those decisions determine outcomes in practice, even though water itself is not subject to legal ownership.

Matua Kahurangi: Racism in our rivers - Māori elites claim water for their own

The latest High Court case over Māori freshwater rights is being hailed as “landmark” by some. Peel back the layers, and what we’re really seeing is the definition of modern-day racism - a race claiming exclusive control over a resource that belongs to everyone.

Water is life. It sustains us all, Māori and European Kiwi’s alike. However in 2025, a coalition of iwi collectives and Māori landowner organisations is arguing that because of their ancestry, they should have special authority over New Zealand’s freshwater. Never mind the fact that most of the population has no say. Never mind that everyday Māori, those struggling to pay rent, heat their homes, and put kai on the table, will not see a cent of any benefit.

DTNZ: Fed Farmers urges government to scrap “unworkable” Te Mana o te Wai rules

Federated Farmers has launched a strong call for the Government to abandon the controversial Te Mana o te Wai framework, describing it as vague, impractical, and unworkable.

Mark Hooper, speaking on behalf of the organisation in its weekly email newsletter, said the rules place the health of water ahead of people, requiring councils to regulate not only measurable aspects such as clarity, fish life, and E. coli levels, but also spiritual concepts like the “mauri” or “life force” of water.