One Mahurangi – Is the message getting through?

I am stopped every day by townsfolk who are concerned, frightened and angry about the Watercare issue. The question I hear most often is, “What can we do to help?” Our engineers are working on the best alternative options, approaching the issue from a technical angle. Our legal team is preparing a challenge, ensuring we have that aspect covered. Additionally, we are seeking more publicity to apply pressure from all sides. We’ve had interviews with RNZ, TV One, and various newspapers, and we’ll continue down those channels until our message is heard.

What else can be done? A constant email campaign from as many people as possible to the Watercare Board would be effective. The address is governanceteam@water.co.nz (Attention: Geoff Hunt, Chairman). The messages need to be respectful – any abusive language will only harm our cause. We need to consistently communicate that, “Warkworth does not want your trenching option.” If we maintain this pressure, hopefully, they will understand that we will not simply roll over. One Mahurangi will be producing a series of email templates that you can use as-is or modify to personalise your message. I must reiterate: keep it respectful.

A possible gathering one Sunday within the next month will be an opportunity for anyone in town or the surrounding districts to make signs and show Watercare how we feel about their pipeline route.

I love the stickers Rick, from Hand of Heart Gallery, has designed, which say “Water don’t care.” This resonates deeply because their analysis shows they only care about 8% of the community impact. We need to hold them accountable and demonstrate that while they may not care, we certainly do.

Keep an eye out for dates and times for a gathering on Queen Street. It will be advertised in Mahurangi Matters and all community Facebook pages. The more people who turn up, the stronger our message to Watercare will be.

Letters have been sent to the Chairman and CEO of Watercare, informing them that Warkworth is not a town that will roll over and let them destroy our retail heart. We will fight until they engage with us to find an option that works for all of us.

Can we win this battle? I honestly don’t know. But I do know that collectively, we will do everything humanly possible to achieve the least disruptive outcome for our town.

Stronger together.