Eckhoff Gerrard: Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Eckhoff Gerrard: Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:620;Page:15551] 
GERRARD ECKHOFF (ACT) 
: 
 I rise with some reluctance to speak on the third reading of this bill. I am reluctant because I had hoped we could at least debate this issue through and come to a common-sense solution that everybody would be pleased about. In fact that has not happened. So that is the reason for my reluctance. 
If this bill is about anything it is about the sensible use of New Zealand’s most valuable natural capital: its water. People only have to go anywhere overseas to understand just how valuable this stuff that we now call blue gold is. Pure fresh clean water is of enormous value not just to the people of the South Canterbury and North Otago region but to New Zealand and indeed to the world. Even as we debate this third reading massive quantities of this blue gold flows to the sea and is there “wasted”. 
 The great need on the Waitaki River the Clutha River and on rivers throughout the area east of the main divide is harvesting and storage. The argument between the irrigator the power generator the fisherman and recreational user and even the in-stream user have a degree of unanimity about the use of the water because each receives his or her share. But it is totally stupid and quite ridiculous to have as I mentioned earlier vast quantities when the snow melts—which is happening right now—run to the ocean and there become of no use to this country. This bill should be about how we can effectively allocate and use this most wonderful of our natural capital assets fresh water in the most sensible and effective way to benefit the people of the region. And I emphasise that. I do not really believe that the people of Auckland Northland or Coromandel where Ms Fitzsimons comes from have some sort of divine right to the waters and the benefits of the Waitaki River. I think the people who live and work in that region have a far greater right to the use of that water than others who come from far greater and far distant regions. 
If they love the Waitaki so much they should join us in this region. But no they pontificate from afar and tell the people of our region how it should happen. This is what will happen with the advent of the board that the Minister is setting up—not the people of the region not the regional council or the district councils but the Minister will appoint her people to decide what should happen to the wealth which is the water of the Otago and Canterbury regions. 
There is very little doubt that the wealth of that region will go to Wellington. This bill is designed for Meridian Energy to capture the benefits of the water allocation that is about to occur. I say unequivocally that that is wrong. I advocate as a rural MP as a member in the Otago electorate for the people of my region and for rural New Zealand. I do so unashamedly. I do not go to South Canterbury or to Otago and advocate the values of the Labour Party to the people of that region. As a member of Parliament my job is to come here and speak unashamedly on behalf of the people of the region from whence I come. 
Shane Ardern 
: Jim Sutton doesn’t do that. 
GERRARD ECKHOFF 
: No Jim Sutton has not done that and I ask Mr David Parker who is here with us this evening to take a call to speak about how he feels and how he is representing the people of his region and to tell them how he can do so effectively by saying: “Well I’ve got two opinions on this. One is for and one is against. You can just sort of tell me what you think at election time.” I think it is the job of members of Parliament to speak in this House and to stand or fall on their private opinions based on what they have gained—the experience they have gained and the opinions they have gained from the people whom they consult with in this region. 
Tragically this bill will be about the redistribution and the reallocation of property rights. Yet again this Government through legislation will legislate away per courtesy of this allocation board existing water rights. I hope that some of the members opposite have some idea what a property right actually means to the people of this country. Any Maori members should know what a property right means but they do not. I see Georgina Beyer in the House. I would like her to take a call and tell this House that she actually believes in property rights. If she does she will vote this bill down as would any other member of the Government who has the courage of his or her convictions on this issue. 
This issue is not difficult—it is hugely important but it is not difficult. It is about respecting the property rights of those landowners of the region who in some cases have held a property for generations. Let me assure the members of this House that the land down there without water and without the ability to irrigate is almost valueless. Even some of the grapes that are to be grown on land in the North Otago region into the future while planted on stony ground absolutely need water to ensure the viability of that particular crop. That is why with huge investment going into our region the security of property rights and the security of water supply is absolutely crucial. The people of our region will now be sitting on eggshells or on razorblades wondering whether their property rights will be reallocated under this socialist Labour Government. That is an issue that I am sure will be brought up time and time again at the next election. 
The point has also been raised—and I ask about it again—as to why we need a specific Act for the Waitaki catchment. What is so different about the Waitaki River from say any other river in Canterbury or indeed even the Clutha River in my region? I ask Minister Hobbs or any other member of the Government what specifics there are that make this river so different that it needs an allocation committee. Of course we all know that it is about ensuring that the Government’s State-owned enterprise its subsidiary company gets the lion’s share. 
 It is all about the transfer of wealth out of the South Canterbury region out of the North Otago region per courtesy of Meridian Energy and up to Wellington. I assure members that I will be informing the voters of our region down in the south just exactly what has occurred and about the fact that the Mackenzie Country irrigators—those who had been promised water all those years ago—have in fact been let down hugely by Mr Baldock and by the United Future Party. They raised the expectations of those irrigators to a huge level only for them to be let down. That is a tragedy and it is a tragedy for the people of South Canterbury and North Otago. The ACT party will be voting against this bill.