David Stewart, Raineffects Director and Consultant Hydrologist

• More than 30 years experience in working with and understanding water resources
• Has developed a broad knowledge of water resource assessment and investigation
• Derives and/or analysing river flows and interprets impacts of water abstraction on flows
• Assesses the practicality of proposed policies and rules in Water Plans

• Worked in the local government sector before setting up own consultancy. Both for the Otago Catchment Board and more recently for the Otago Regional Council
• Clients range from farmers and their water needs to large organisations working through the water resource consent or water planning processes
• Well-known commentator on local and national network radio news bulletins, local newspapers, and local and national television channels
• Expert observations occasionally prompting front-page stories and headlines in the various media
• BSc in Geography from the University of Otago, Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering Hydrology from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and a Soil and Water Conservation Certificate

Just 30% of All Water is Potentially Accessible for Use

Water is an irreplaceable and difficult natural resource to manage. Sixty percent is in either polar or glacial ice or water vapour. The remaining thirty percent of fresh water is in liquid form and potentially accessible for human use and management.

Water is an essential resource for human, animal and plant health. However, natural waters can become non-renewable by human actions such as contamination, modification of land where all of the water (surface and groundwater) flows to the lowest point or disproportionate extraction.

Access to water is a basic human right and clean, inexpensive water improves both personal and social health.

Decisions about water concern many interested parties or stakeholders. Decisions about water in one area could have sweeping implications in others.