Access to irrigation water : private property rights applied to water

Abstract

Development of a system for privatising bulk water supply is examined. Garret Hardin's (1915-) "tragedy of the commons" is seen as a pressing issue for deep aquifer and surface water allocation in the field area, the Kakanui River catchment, where depletion of deep aquifer reserves and an over-allocated surface water resource for irrigation are recognised as causes for concern. A moral and practical framework for dealing with water as private property was first developed and justified then views on its acceptability were sought through semi-structured interviews with water users and administrators in the field area. Issues raised by interviewees lead to a recommended system of perpetual Tradeable Water Permits, with prioritised access governed by Common Law and based on English philosopher John Locke's (1632-1704) principles for land privatisation. It is argued that pollution and the requirement of environmental conservation should be treated as commodities for trade to achieve a mutually negotiated environmental standard. An important step to achieve this goal will be to abolish the Resource Management Act (1991), and other prescriptive environmental laws, because they do not permit free trade in valued resources.