Who Owns Our Fresh Water?
14 August 2007

Poll Outcomes

Maori – 18%
All New Zealanders – 82%

Most New Zealanders believe that water is fundamentally a public resource that should belong to all New Zealanders. The access to clean water is a basic human right in New Zealand. It must be recognised that it is not only Maori that have strong historical and cultural links to our rivers and lakes but all New Zealanders.

There is a legal argument held up by many that claims the ownership of water is unclear and the Crown must negotiate with Maori and pay compensation if it wants to extinguish customary title. There is no evidence that customary title has been extinguished by common law or statute law. Most New Zealanders recognise that while this position may be legally arguable it is an impractical and divisive alternative to the crown’s management of fresh water as a public resource for the benefit of all.

United Future Position:

Natural resources like air and water belong to all New Zealanders, and it is the Crown's responsibility to exercise that ownership equally and fairly on our behalf.