Cantabrians protest to save their water

This comes after Environment Canterbury granted Chinese company, Cloud Ocean Water, permission to take water from underground bores. 

The Regional Council bit back at the protest in a media release yesterday, urging them to "Cut the crap and stick to the facts." 

Organiser of the march, Scott Esdaile, said "We are here to make sure that we secure the future of Cantabrians and our future generations of New Zealanders that come through." 

He said he was blown away by the number of people that turned out, with the crowd reportedly reaching over two thousand. 

Claire Shipston, who attended her first protest with her sister Liz Knight, said "while they chlorinate our water and give us restrictions. They're giving our water away, all for the measly price of a consent."

Another protester, who was a remember of Te Ahikaaroa Kapa Haka said, "We need to tiaki the life force of Papatūānuku, our whenua, we need the water to sustain not only our whenua but ourselves."