Water Supply Access without a legal easement?

[Brent George]

This appears to be an interesting conundrum - The Press (on-line) 23-Jan-2018

The report describes a situation where a 1980's 'verbal agreement' to access a town (Punakaiki) water supply point over private property has been questioned/challenged by subsequent landowners after Council contractors have blatantly cut access tracks and cleared trees without the landowners agreement.  No legal easement or right seems to be documented, although Council claims that it has "an entitlement to access as the owner of the water supply and is well within their rights to access the intake" (The quote being unsubstantiated by any documentation I note...)

Is this a case of Council riding roughshod over an innocent landowner, and using the Public Works acquisition process to bully them?

or

Is it a seemingly naïve landowner holding the Council ransom over compensation now that the water supply to Punakaiki has become a critical resource?

[Brent George]

Another update/report on this Punakaiki Water Supply issue...
Stuff - National: 8-Jan-2020

And as there is a Tourism impact with this vital resource - a combination of media exposure and tourists being impacted may encourage both parties to seek and obtain a resolution....

Another "wait and see" scenario.

[Brent George]

Council Issues Notice to Take Land for Punakaiki Water Supply
Stuff - National: 23-August-2021

A West Coast council has issued a compulsory purchase order for land at Punakaiki to ensure the water supply for the town.

The Buller District Council is acquiring 25 square metres of private land from which the township’s water supply is drawn, along with a right of way and easement to convey water.

Edgar Rochwalski and Janice Lee own the land as part of their 40 hectare site and have been in dispute with the council over access to it since 2014.