With the Three Waters reforms under fire, let’s not forget that safe and affordable water is a human right
- Written by Nathan Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato

While ostensibly about improving New Zealand’s water infrastructure, the government’s proposed Three Waters reforms have instead become a lightning rod for political division and distrust.
Critics cite concerns about local democracy, de facto privatisation and co-governance with Māori as reasons to oppose the Water...