One year since Havelock North's water was contaminated with campylobacter, communities throughout New Zealand will hold a candlelit "Vigil for Water" tomorrow at twilight.
People are invited to join the event in Havelock North, being held in conjunction with others in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, to send a common message to central and regional governments that communities and the environment need clean water.
One of the organisers of the Havelock North vigil, Michaela Evans, said water, like air, was a vital life force and she was compelled to get involved because of her concerns about the safety of drinking water and the health of the region's waterways.
"The Tukituki is my local river and I can't be sure if it's safe to take my dogs for a walk there," Ms Evans said.
"I'm sad to think that I may not be able to go to the Tukituki River with my nieces and nephews once they learn how to swim."