Water rights (groundwater and surface water) were originally allocated
out on a first come first served process.
Water management is the responsibility of the Regional Council
Water rights will expire usually after 10 years, and must now be renewed through the Resource Consent Process.
Water rights are not tradeable under the Resource Management Act
Council requires water right holders to pay for:
Maintaining public access
Ecosystem protection
Planting / maintaining vegetation
Protection of areas of cultural significance
Administration fees
The council assesses new and renewing applications for water based on
cultural, ecological, economic, social and public views.
Water is initially allocated on the basis of existing access, or
is sold to individuals by the water governing body (regional council).
Guaranteed minimum stream flow rates will be determined by the governing body for recreational and ecological reasons.
Allocated water consists of a percentage of water available, so all water right holders will get less during low flows, and be entitled to more during high flows.
Water rights are tradable on an open market between water users.
Water quality will be the responsibility of the water governing body (Regional Council), which will set standards through their current procedures.
The Regional Council will monitor and police water uptake.
All river and groundwater within a catchment is owned by one individual/company/co-operative.
Users of water would buy rights to use water from the company.
Water quality and quantity would be the responsibility of the Water Company, who would have to respond to consumer demands through market forces.
Minimum water flows would not be guaranteed unless conservation groups purchased water rights from the Water Company.
The Water Company would have a monopoly over the catchment’s water,
but could face competition from neighbouring catchments. For
example, farmers may see that the Kakanui Water Co.’s water price is too
high, so they will consider buying from the Waitaki Water Co, and the water
would have to be pumped into the Kakanui Catchment by the water company,
water user group, or a third party.