I thank Lew Rohloff from grey power in his letter about the cost of water, based on the premise of the human entitlement to access water. The cost of water access is not a nice to have for those who can afford it while those already facing cost of living pressures that already disenfranchise them, have limited access to it. While conservation of this taonga is the responsibility of all, proposed financial restriction to it by the introduction of volumetric water meters is not a just or equitable solution. Tiaki Wai board chair has publicly stated that volumetric water meters will be introduced but when I requested that Taiki Wai provide me with the modelling that supports this I was referred to Wellington Water as Taiki Wai does not have it. This does not give me confidence that the appointed Tiaki Wai Chair has the information necessary to have an informed opinion on his proposal to financially restrict water access. Water meters are the vehicle by which we will be charged for water use they are hailed as private property leak detectors, but this does not hold water there are other ways to identify possible leaks on private property, volumetric water meters are a costly lazy tool. We need to protest their introduction on the lack of proof that they will be of benefit in managing water conservation and the more important priority denying equitable access to water as a basic need and human right.

Teresa Homan

A “thank you” to Teresa Homan for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

11/02/26