The New Zealand Beverage Council, representing the nation’s non-alcoholic beverage industry, is defending New Zealand bottled water manufacturers against misinformed commentators unfairly targeting the industry. We are thankful to the Prime Minister for clarifying how inappropriate it is to target bottled water exporters for a broad and complex issue that has no quick-fix solution. Our water bottling industry has created employment in this country for nearly two decades. In doing so, it has been one of the few industries to move employment back to regional and remote areas, where it is a vital source of economic security for local communities. The unique taste and quality of New Zealand’s water has played a significant part in building ‘Brand New Zealand’, which is valued and respected the world over—and vital for the future prosperity of the nation. We have achieved this without harming the environment due to the extreme efficiency of the bottlers in terms of water consumption in contrast with other productive sectors. Consented water bottling volumes (across 44 resource consents issued for water bottling nationally) are a mere 0.004% of New Zealand’s total annual consumptive use; by contrast, irrigation accounts for 50% of total usage. New Zealand has the second highest amount of freshwater per capita in the world. Yet, GET OIO APPROVAL FOR FOREIGN WATER BUYERS Federated Farmers suggests Overseas Investment Office approval should be considered for large takes of water by overseas interests. If the intention is to see foreign-owned companies charged for water they sell offshore, then rather than require all New Zealanders to pay for water, the government could consider requiring those companies to obtain the permission of the Overseas Investment Office. They should be asked to prove they are making a significant net benefit to New Zealand. Charging for the water itself would have significant implications for all New Zealanders and is not supported by Federated Farmers. Consumers would simply end up paying for essentially what would be a new tax. We support NZ First’s recent call for an up-todate register of foreign-owned property that records purchases and on-sales. Chris Allen (Federated Farmers water spokesperson) NATIONAL CONVERSATION NEEDED OVER WATER PRICING Water New Zealand is calling for a national conversation over water pricing. Charging for water is a complex and difficult issue, and there is a need to avoid a knee jerk response to perceptions of people profiting from a valuable resource without paying for it. Charging or taxing for water use would lead to questions of water ownership as well as who ought to be charged and on what basis. It would be wrong to charge for the use of water for bottling while allowing other resource holders to continue to extract water without those same charges being applied. For instance, if we charged water bottling companies, should we also be charging farmers, industrial users and residential homeowners? It would also raise the question of iwi rights and interests. We support the Government’s current view that it needs to focus on water quality, but believe it’s time to start broader conversation about water pricing and charging. John Pfahlert (Water New Zealand chief executive) A PLEA FOR UNDERSTANDING Please recognise the economic contributions of bottled water manufacturers, says New Zealand Beverage Council president Olly Munro only 2% of our freshwater resource is used, with groundwater volumes estimated to have varied by less than 2% between 1994-2014. Despite the relatively low usage of this abundant resource and the huge economic advantage the industry offers the country, it is disappointing that they again find themselves under attack from the uninformed. It is clear considerable deliberation and thought needs to take place around the complex issue of water ownership, management of, access to, distribution and volume supply considerations to all water consumers…be they industrial, commercial, agricultural, or private and public enterprises. Overlaying this is a need to determine how best to ensure the security and sustainability of a quality potable water resource now and into the future. What is completely inappropriate is the laying of total responsibility for this at the hands of an industry that draws on such a small quantity of this resource. We support the Government’s move to move quickly to broaden the conversation and help the public recognise the significant contribution New Zealand’s bottling industries make to this nation and we look forward to playing an active part in this discussion. The Council welcomes the opportunity to participate fully in the Land and Water Forum review, akin to other key stakeholders presently representing the interests of the majority of water users in New Zealand. The unique taste and quality of New Zealand’s water has played a significant part in building ‘Brand New Zealand’, which is valued and respected the world over Consented water bottling volumes (across 44 resource consents issued for water bottling nationally) are a mere 0.004% of New Zealand’s total annual consumptive use; by contrast, irrigation accounts for 50% of total usage. COVER STORY
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