At the prospect of having their water drilled, bottled and sold Ashburton lobbyists are saying: “You can’t have it because it’s mine.”

While some might perceive the above as a childish, even petulant stance, for the Ashburton locals their water is precious…

Going back a few years these same locals were in uproar when it was revealed their drinking water might contain trace amounts of nitrate (see, Rate of Nitrate), a result of chemical leaching caused by heavy fertilisation coupled with even heavier irrigation, during those dry summer months on the Canterbury Plains.

…The fact a water bottling plant would employ hundreds and ultimately do wondrous things for the Ashburton economy seems unimportant: it’s Ashburton’s water table and apparently locals would much rather see millions of litres of untapped water draining into the ocean never again to be seen in desalinated form, than to witness that bloody National Government profit from such an enterprise.

Here’s a fun fact: a wealthy Government is generally tantamount to a wealthy people – if New Zealand’s Government were more cashed up it could afford to impose less tax on its population while providing better support to areas such as healthcare and education.

Still, amid a nation of budding eco-warriors cum small-minded bigots, it’s easy to see how the thought of our pristine water being drunk by foreigners is upsetting.

Best let it go back into the ocean where it belongs, eh.

Article by Tim Walker

Edited by Water N Ocean

Photography by Wais Ted Ray-Sauce