Groundswell NZ Meetings Popular
Two years ago Groundswell NZ first appeared in our communities with their tractors, and now they are travelling around the country with another bee in their bonnet – Three Waters.
There was a strong turnout of 200 people in Alexandra on Monday night, and Tuesday they headed to Wanaka, before moving down back south today (Wednesday) to a full house 300-400 in Gore and Balclutha.
The Invercargill event is on at the Workingmen’s Club Thursday night at 7pm for anybody interested in hearing their campaign, demanding councils oppose the Three Waters project, and withdraw from Local Government New Zealand.
The group believes that while the Government is forcing Three Waters through, councils still have a duty to their ratepayers to stand up for their views and interests.
“Too many councils have been ambivalent towards Three Waters, and some even support it, despite widespread opposition from the locals they represent,” representative Lee Smith.
Groundswell NZ’s consistent position has been that no ratepayer assets should change hands without a clear local and democratic mandate from residents in binding referenda.
The Timaru District Council has already withdrawn from LGNZ and Groundswell wants other councils to do the same.
Invercargill City Council deputy Mayor Nobby Clark, whose public address has been aired at the Southern meetings, has twice filed a notice of motion to try and have his council gain more control over Three Waters – but so far has been unsuccessful.
The first was asking the council to opt out of Three Waters until the community had been consulted. The second was asking councillors to join the ‘Communities 4 Local Democracy’ breakaway group, separate from LGNZ. There are currently 31 councils in the group, including on the West Coast and Timaru, but none south of the Waitaki.
Nobby said LGNZ was meant to be a lobby group on behalf of councils, but many people believed they were no longer advocating for them.
He said if people really wanted make a difference and have their views heard on Three Waters, they should put pressure on their local Labour MP – which in Invercargill is Dr Liz Craig.