DEBATE ON KIWIBLOG OVER DEFENDING THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER BY UNRESTRICTING ‘TAMPERED’ WATER METERS

24 June 2011

DEBATE ON KIWIBLOG OVER DEFENDING THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER BY UNRESTRICTING ‘TAMPERED’ WATER METERS: publicwatchdog (707) Says: June 24th, 2011 at 5:27 pm Sofia (159)

Says: June 24th, 2011 at 8:03 am

A very scary video of a person advocating criminal acts against New Zealand authorities – www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzccHIB3paQ _______________________________________________________________________________________________

errr……….. what’s the ‘criminal’ offence ‘Sofia’? You are obviously not up with the play with recent International developments regarding the Human Right to water and sanitation?

www.canadians.org/media/water/2011/20-Jun-11.html

Arguably the ‘criminal’ offence is the ‘tampering’ with the water meter to restrict a household’s water supply, which is essential for health and sanitation.

(I’m simply showing how to remedy that ‘tampering’ 🙂

Yesterday at the Auckland Council meeting, I took along ‘Rita’ and ‘Peter’ (our demonstration water meters), plus a clamp which I had removed with an angle grinder, and explained VERY clearly to all Councillors and representatives of Watercare who were present, that the Water Pressure Group would simply not tolerate water restriction being used as a means of debt enforcement.

To assist – I used our demonstration water meters to show HOW water meters were restricted, and we would unrestrict them.

I took (and take) FULL personal responsibility on behalf of the Water Pressure Group for unrestricting water meters and training hundreds (hopefully thousands) of citizens to defend their household’s basic human right to water.

In the ‘bad old days’ (before the Local Government Act 2002) Metrowater (contractors) used to restrict water meters in order to try and punish Water Pressure Group members – although we had put in writing ‘letters of dispute’ – to which Metrowater had never replied.

We formed the famous Water Pressure Group ‘Turn On’ Squad, and took out the restrictors. Then Metrowater (contractors) removed the water meters.

Water Pressure Group ‘Turn On’ Squad members then put in connections, which effectively replaced the water meters.

Metrowater contractors were then instructed to ‘permanently’ disconnect water services to some WPG members, which involved turning off the street mains, digging up the street and removing water pipes.

In broad daylight, after notifying the Council, Police, Metrowater and media – the Water Pressure Group organised the famous ‘street dig ups’ which involved up to one hundred WPG members and supporters wearing “DUMP METROWATER” sashes, and all having a turn putting our feet on the shovel helping to dig up the road.

The water pipes were replaced – concrete was then poured over the pipes, and the water supply was turned back on, all shown on national TV.

Metrowater had run out of plumbing options.

They had done their worst – we ‘undid’ it.

The result?

A law change, which the Water Pressure Group literally won ‘on the street’. Under the Local Government Act 2002, it became unlawful to disconnect water services as a means of debt enforcement.

(When the people lead – the politicians will follow?)

Back in 2004, another significant victory was achieved when the Far North District Council threatened to introduce water restriction as a means of debt enforcement.

Here I would like to give full credit to Hone Harawira and others, who helped with an intensive 2 day campaign, involving local media, which helped to stop the Council in their tracks.

‘Rita’ and ‘Peter’ the water meters were taken up North, and we had street meetings in Kaitaia and Kaikohe where I showed locals how to unrestrict water meters if the Far North District Council went ahead.

We had the support of Public Health Officials, including the local Medical Officer of Health, against restricting water supplies and putting the health, particularly of children at risk.

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=6500446

www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/health-risk-feared-as-fndc-eyes-water-lines/3613791/

The Far North District Council backed off.

So folks!

If your water meter is restricted using a clamp – here is how you fix it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzccHIB3paQ

(Thank you ‘Sofia’ for helping to ‘spread the word’. Much appreciated.

Other You Tube clips will be made showing how to remove restrictors in both ‘in-line’ and ‘manifold’ meters.)

Penny Bright

waterpressure.wordpress.com