On 29th May Ngā Ara Whetū and the Water Research Centre co-hosted a salon discussion with our expert panel: Dame Juliet Gerrard, Professor Naresh Singhal, Associate Professor Daniel Hikuroa and Dr Filippo Verre; moderated by Associate Professor Dr Maria Armoudian.
In one frame, water is an ancient kin, a revered elder, and we enjoy user-privileges, provided we fulfil consequent responsibilities. In another, water is a human right. In both, it is vital for human and ecosystem life. Healthy water is taonga, and critical for food, energy, mental health and more. And while Aotearoa New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of freshwater, here and all over the world water is being degraded, polluted, and used as a political tool for power and money.
This discussion delved into the questions: What is the state of our water? What are the primary challenges to ensuring clean, potable water for generations to come? And what are the politics that either prevent or advance the availability of healthy waterways and drinking water? For one, decades of underinvestment have left ageing water infrastructure with about 22% of piped water lost to leaks, while many wastewater plants operating on expired consents. Climate change, intensified droughts, floods alongside emerging contaminants—PFAS/PFOS, microplastics, and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens—are threatening human and ecosystem health. Ensuring clean, safe water for future generations requires urgent infrastructure upgrades, robust regulation, and integrated scientific and Māori knowledge.
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible.
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