Returning to the Rivers: Choose Clean Water Tour 2021
WHAT’s The Story?
In 2016, the Choose Clean Water team travelled the length of the country collecting stories of everyday people who were being hurt by the degradation of their awa (rivers). The 24 short films we produced raised public awareness about the state of our rivers and was the foundation for our campaign for healthy, swimmable rivers.
Since then a lot has changed. Together, with you, our supporters, ActionStation members and many others, we’ve fought for stronger freshwater policy. We’ve won new rules that take some good steps to addressing New Zealand’s widespread water pollution, including limits on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.
But Aotearoa’s precious fresh waterways are still under threat.
This summer we are returning to the rivers to tell the next important part of the story and seed the new mahi we must do. We need your help to do this.
We are going to interview local experts, hapū and others in our communities about how much water commercial interests are taking from our awa and groundwater and the effects this has. We're going to ask them what solutions they see for restoring water flows and their vision for health rivers in Aotearoa.
Our films will tell the stories of people in three parts of the country who are feeling the impact of too much water being taken from rivers.
It is possible to take too much. Unsustainable water use is hurting our rivers, demoralising communities and undermining our national goals for healthy waterways. It's making our communities more vulnerable from the effects of climate change. The best action we can take for mitigation and building resilience in the face of climate change is to protect the health of our natural environment.
Our films have the mission to share the voices of local people who care about the health of their waterways. Their voices will guide our calls to our elected representatives to base their decision making on the fact that while fresh water is renewable, it is finite.
We will base our stories on the principles of Te Mana o te Wai. Te Mana o te Wai requires that the health of the river is the first priority. Healthy rivers can then provide for the needs of the people (e.g. drinking water). And only after the health of the river and people are cared for, can commercial opportunities for water be considered.
When truly implemented, Te Mana o Te Wai will transform our approach to restore and give back to rivers for the health and well-being of us all.
With your help, the films will support the call on our elected representatives to put a moratorium on water takes (as called for by Kāhui Wai Māori), revoke consents to take water where the health of rivers and people is suffering, and put in place fair and healthy limits on how much water can be used.
We have a newly re-elected Labour Government and Green Party Ministers. They have the choice to meet our national goals for healthy, swimmable rivers within a generation.
We know how powerful telling personal stories can be. They provide vital context and a voice for our most pressing issues. Our 2016 films helped set the scene and drove our campaign for higher standards for water quality in advance of the 2017 election.
Help us tell these new, powerful stories to support change. We can't do this without you.
