The answer was that that issue fell outside the scope of the economist's brief for that set of his work, though he did affirm the issue as an important future deliberation with water matters in Hawke's Bay.
Indeed I believe that the distribution of economic benefits is going to be an increasingly debated issue and I believe it needs to be. If ratepayers are expected to contribute to things such irrigation storage schemes then rightfully, along with immediate beneficiaries, they also should benefit economically from such investment.
Of course this brings into play the issue of who owns, or doesn't own the water because the answer to this largely determines who has the right to use and therefore benefit from the water.
Some say no one owns the water. Others say we all do. Rather than we all own the water, my view is that we are all stewards or kaitiaki of our water and natural resources, or at least we should be.
Ngati Kahunugnu Inc presented the view that water is our taonga or treasure. Water is not merely an economic commodity but it's of deep spiritual significance to many, including tangata whenua or the people of the land.
So sacred and special is the nature of water to Maori that iwi around New Zealand are taking innovative approaches to protecting the natural resource.
The Whanganui River has become the first in the world to be granted the legal status of a person. In essence, the Whanganui iwi view and treat the river as a tupuna, or ancestor, and looked for ways to personify the river so that it now hold rights as its own legal entity and by these new found powers it can fight back and demand to be treated appropriately using the law.
Tina Porou, senior environmental planner and Indigenous thought leader, brought her view based upon 20 years' extensive experience working with government, business and grass-roots community.
She posed that there is enormous wealth in indigenous ways of thinking. She believes that instead of marginalising the Maori voice and seeing it as a threat, New Zealand would benefit greatly from embracing it.
The best part of her korero or speech had to be when she joked that the sky didn't suddenly fall in having Maori at the decision-making table.
What was noticeable to me on the days of the symposium, which reflects what I observe of society currently, is that things are definitely bubbling in relation to water issues and the divergent views and interests in the mix.
We must find ways to better provide for all parties and people and for our environment, and with the public pressure mounting I am excited with the prospects of innovative approaches surfacing to best steward our environment for our generation and those to come.
The symposium was interesting to attend and served its purpose of being an informative avenue as we grapple with these developing issues.
*Jacoby Poulain is a Hastings district councillor, a board member of the Hawke's Bay District Health Board and is on the EIT Council
