In July 2017, party leader Jacinda Ardern said a Labour government would charge businesses, including farmers and drink bottlers, for the amount of water they use. Ardern said they would "differentiate" water based on source, quantity, and destination. Royalties would largely be returned to regional councils to clean up waterways. Federated Farmers say Labour's water tax plan has the potential to cripple regional economies if cattle and crop farmers are made to pay for the water they use. Environmental groups are welcoming the policy.
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Depends on the type of business
Depends on size of business
Depends on what the water was used for.
@9F8DQRVTe Pāti Māori2yrs2Y
yes but only big rich businesses because some small businesses/people/workers can't afford the taxes they all ready have to pay
@9F86C5D2yrs2Y
Yes, but these taxes need to be used to protect and clean up waterways in that region
It should depend on the type of business...
Yes and No, either only depending on the amount they actually use and for what
@9F7L28Q2yrs2Y
Yes but only in some instances
Over a certain threshold then yes.
Only when it is being knowing abused
Depends on the amount used
Yes, and incentivise recycling of water and low use
@9F6H5MJOpportunities2yrs2Y
Yes, consumption of water for Agriculture must be monitored
Yes but maybe not heaps for farmers. But also do use the money to clean local waterways and give back to the environment.
@9F69SXBOpportunities2yrs2Y
If it's companies that use large volumes
I don’t have an opinion on this
@9F65ZRH2yrs2Y
depends on what they do with it.
It depends on what business and how much water their using.
@9F64D962yrs2Y
Yes, but only if they aren't harming aquatic creatures or damaging an underwater habitat
No, This would put some smaller businessess out of business eg water blasting
Big couprate businesses yes. Small business no untill they earn a certain amount annually
Yes if they are excessive users
Dependant on quantity of water used.
When they are being greedy ****
@9DWVVW22yrs2Y
No if they implement a environmental friendly stardard practice
Depends on what it's being used for and how much of it they use
@9DT22WZ2yrs2Y
Charged as a local government rate based on service cost.
@9DSNMT52yrs2Y
yes, but only a small tax percent
@9DS29VG2yrs2Y
Depends on size of the business and water use
@9DQWQV82yrs2Y
Businesses using significantly more than the majority should probably pay some form of levy.
It depends on the way the water is being used.
@9DPKMC42yrs2Y
@9DNBJ6L2yrs2Y
Depending on the business. Wastage should be discouraged
@9DG9TRX2yrs2Y
Only in the event of high waste usage
@9DCCQHCOpportunities2yrs2Y
Under the Resource Management Act the resource consent applicant is set a take limit. Cut the consent period to 10 years.
@9D9GDJG2yrs2Y
if the Business is NOT a NZ Owned Business - then YES, If it is a NZ Owned Business then NO.
@9D8Z8GBOpportunities2yrs2Y
If they degrade the quality of the water or are taking significantly above the average for their industry
Yes if over a certain threshold
@9D7CMSW2yrs2Y
Yes, if they use over a large threshold
Yes, if they use over a certain limit and/or are shipping resources overseas.
@9D5245N2yrs2Y
Yes, If they are on selling it.
@9D4TSBV2yrs2Y
Yes, especially if they are shipping water overseas, or irrigating crops that never used to grow in that region, lowering the water table for all the other farmers and water users, freshwater life in the region. Less so if they are a farmer who is using water responsibly.
@9D4CC5T2yrs2Y
Depends on the type of business. Perhaps over a certain threshold
@9G5F66W1yr1Y
I agree with both the waterway cleanup and shipping overseas. I think it depends on what the water usage is for and the size of the company using that water.
@9FPG44R2yrs2Y
Yes and use the funds to clean up local waterways and improve public water infrastructure.
They should pay for the water they use
Council water meters should be compulsory for business, and the business should pays local government not central government.
@9FMDNG22yrs2Y
Yes is over certain amount of water.
Yes, and use the funds to clean up local waterways. With a higher rate for water being shipped overseas
@9FK46GPDemocracyNZ2yrs2Y
If they are drawing water from aquifers and then bottling to sell overseas or back to us then yes
@9FJY7Z52yrs2Y
Yes if water is necessary for the production of their product
Manufacturing & Sellers of export or local bottled water should be taxed
@9FJLT8V2yrs2Y
If water is scarce then yes
@9FHQVH52yrs2Y
As long as it’s sustainable no
Make this policy dependent on how big the business is.
@9FFR22N2yrs2Y
maybe it their own problem but if u lend to god just know he loves u
@9FFNQFX2yrs2Y
I don’t taxing actually creates resolutions. Usually someone will get a budget and no real plan will be in place. Things will constantly change which means it’s void money. It will be spent into oblivion on things that make zero real world impact. But I definitely think we should be doing more to work with our environment instead of against it. Humans are dirty.
@9FFNBPQ 2yrs2Y
Yes if the company is using over a certain amount. Unfair for small businesses while big businesses earn more
Yes they should if they are using large amounts of water
@9FDWTKS2yrs2Y
Water is essential for life and a working economy therefore it is a rite not a privilege
@9FDW3RN2yrs2Y
I partially support this however am concerned at what tax would be imposed and where the cost pass on would lead to e.g. Inflation
@9FDTPCFOpportunities2yrs2Y
Yes, if they consume over a certain threshold per year
@9FDS2N62yrs2Y
Depends on how much water is used.
@9FDRWQN2yrs2Y
Businesses with significantly high usage should be reviewed.
@9FDRMSK2yrs2Y
Only if it is perceive to be above whats deemed necessary
Only past a certain amount
No, only if they are shipping the water overseas as a product.
Not if water is returned to waterways clean.
@9FCQJBF2yrs2Y
Water should be free for everyone
Businesses that are water intensive should yes. (Eg, water bottlers (especially overseas companies) car washers, pools)
Should be charged but not taxed
@9FCFHRF2yrs2Y
Yes - proportionate to the amount of water they use that they are not paying for in another way.
@9FC3NNY2yrs2Y
Yes but only large businesses
Yes, unless they supply publicly available infrastructure
@9FBSMPQ2yrs2Y
Yes, only after a certain amount has been used.
@9FB9XTT2yrs2Y
Depends what sort of business
Is there not a better way to encourage careful use of water? Meters for high users like horticulture, eg.
Depends on how much water is used and the business's environmental and economic impacts on the local community.
Only if the business uses tons and tons of water
Depends on how the water is used... how does it harm the environment etc.
@9F9DLFZ2yrs2Y
Only big businesses who can afford it. Don't tax small businesses
Already pay expensive water rates
Yes depending on why they are using the water
Yes depending on the amount used
Depending on what they use it for and how much they use
Yes if it is excessive and not fully needed
Only if they sell water as a product eg: water bottles, water tankers etc.
@9F4N9DX2yrs2Y
Only if it is used in or a part of their business and they are making money out of it
No unless it is being bottled for export
@9F4KH46New Nation2yrs2Y
Yes a modest fair rate per cubic metre akin to the sneaky levies upon everyday ratepayers. Fees collected and subsequent expenditure must be published
@9F26J5X2yrs2Y
No but water should be owned by all nz’ers not corporations
Water meters - pay for what you use with possible limits in certain areas
@9DZ8QMZ2yrs2Y
Yes, only to a level sufficient to fund the monitoring and reporting of the impact of their water use on the environment
@9DZ483N2yrs2Y
Only for that which they use to produce product for sale.
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