Reading between the lines: Identifying and assessing the ‘equity issues' relating to large scale irrigation schemes in Canterbury
Luke Bailey
Supervisor: Ann Winstanley Environmental Science and Research (ESR)
Abstract
My studentship sits within a two year Capability fund at the Institute of Environmental Science & Research Ltd exploring equity issues relating to water transfer and allocation in New Zealand.
My studentship involved identifying and critically analyzing the equity issues pertaining to the development of large scale irrigation schemes in Canterbury (as presented through the press media). Of specific interests was the Central Plains Water (CPW) Scheme, around which there has been considerable contention. CPW plans to take water from both the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers and distribute it to land owners through the construction of a dam the Waianiwaniwa Valley and a series of canals across the Canterbury Plains. This analysis focused on publicly disseminated material either through the press media or from supportive (promotional) websites to identify and access the relative importance of equity claims as determined by their prominence in the discourse on irrigation.
The first part of the project involved reading local media reports on issues relating to irrigation and Central Plains Water. In conjunction with information from promotional websites and speeches from key protagonists this information was used to identify equity issues, these being, what individuals and groups involved in the media discussion purport as fair.
The second part of the project involved analyzing the above identified equity issues in an attempt to show how selective issues have constructed a dominant discourse. Which figures in the development and promotion of strategies which will fundamentally change the way in which water resources are managed in the future.
Numerous individual, societal and environmentally based equity issues were raised through the media discourse relating to the development of irrigation schemes in Canterbury. Equity claims were constructed relating to the allocation and distribution of water, the structure and process of water management, as well as property, economic, social, intergenerational, recreational and environmental rights.
Media reporting on Canterbury’s irrigation and water issues has focused on the ‘poor’ state of the regions waterways and the failure of present water management systems to cope with an ever increasing problem. Major voices in this discourse such as Environment Canterbury, Ministry of Agriculture & the Environment, large dairy companies and farmers interests groups figure in the flow of information detailing and defining Canterbury’s water “crisis”. It is through this process that Canterbury’s water crisis has been constructed along two lines. Firstly, present water resource strategies and systems are viewed as unable to provide reliable water to farms, water “storage and redistribution” networks (irrigation) are then located as the most viable option to ensure reliable water both now and in the future so that water can be developed sustainably.
Secondly, water is constructed as a scarce “economic resource” that is used and allocated inefficiently because it is free. A market-efficiency discourse has aided in the development and promotion of market based principals into water management solutions.
Thus, constituting a process through which new strategies and policies of water management are developed opportunistically in response to the perceived failure present water management and the regions purported water ‘crisis’.
The summer studentship was an extremely worthwhile and valuable experience.
The studentship was an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to a practical and contentious practical situation. Remaining objective was a perpetual challenge, developing an objective report whilst developing personal views from the media’s representation, especially given the self-interested nature of much of the media material and a reasonably interpreted view of public opinion derived from the same material.
Furthermore, the experience gave me invaluable insight into the workings and operations of a social science research team. My involvement with, and observation of the team at ESR highlighted the importance of other not-so obvious skills that are essential in social science. The importance of networking, relationship building, project planning and cooperation were readily apparent as necessary skills in becoming a social scientist.
Being as this project was the largest research assignment I have been involved with it presented challenges that I am unaccustomed to dealing with. Because of its size I found the project an extremely valuable exercise in time, resource and information management, and thus, was an excellent opportunity to develop these skills which will be essential for future research.