Aucklanders were collectively our New Zealanders of the Year for the stoic goodwill they showed in coping with the great water crisis of 1994.
As the dams dried up during a prolonged drought there were real fears for the health of the people as well as the city's economic wellbeing.
The immediate solution was to save water and Aucklanders set about doing just that with a devotion that exceeded all expectations.
"Their daily routines were dominated by the need to save water," wrote Herald local body reporter, Philip English in his tribute to fellow citizens.
In June the city's mayors had called for 25 per cent savings to prevent the need for standpipes in the street and the people responded by savings that peaked at 28.5 per cent in July.
