John Hart, Green Party candidate Wairarapa. PHOTO / File
1) Are you in favour of a water tax for its commercial use?
I don't think many people would disagree with a levy or royalty being applied to our most pristine water, bottled for export. Whether we think none of us own the water, or all of us do, this
is the start of an important conversation about not just ownership, but our responsibilities for preserving this resource for future generations.
For wider commercial use, I agree water should be paid for in principle. Businesses that use water make commercial decisions every day. The price they pay for their inputs (and outputs in the case of pollution) play a part in driving behaviour. Avoiding those costs distorts business models and leads to poorer outcomes.
The Green party will establish a working group that allows all of us to have a say in deciding the best way to protect our water sources and determine fair resource charges for all commercial uses of water.
2) Does such a tax threaten to deepen the region's town/country rift and the disconnect between food production and our population?
The conversation the Green Party is proposing actually has the potential to build better understanding and empathy between town and country. It's a great opportunity to take on some of the questions we've ignored for too long about who owns water, what value we all get from it, and how we share responsibility for protecting it into the future.
3) Some say this will cost farmers and consumers - do you agree?
Putting a fair price on water use that reflects the value of the resource allows businesses and consumers to make better decisions. Putting honest pricing on inputs is an important tool to move agriculture to a more sustainable footing in the long term.
