Welcome to Water Ambassadors of NZ

This site is all about understanding the issues and spreading the message about conserving our precious drinking water supply.

Register as a Water Ambassador of New Zealand and we'll support your efforts to help others save water and money.

We'll give you information and materials that can help you spread the word on using water wisely. We'll also give you the opportunity to tell us how you are being water efficient at home or in the workplace.

This is a place you can post promotional offers, profile case studies, share useful links, and show us what you are doing with your water advocacy. Send us stories, photos or even short videos and we'll endeavour to post them on these pages. By sharing our expertise together we'll all learn more ways to minimise wastage and inspire others.

Why do we need water ambassadors?

Waitakere City Council has a water demand management goal to reduce water usage by 25 percent by 2025. This is necessary in order to defer huge financial and environmental costs for providing an additional water source for our growing population. We need to encourage as many residents and businesses as possible to reduce their use of drinking water on non-potable activities in order to achieve this goal.

Many of us need to increase our awareness of how we use water and then make small changes in our daily behaviours. Education and encouragement of this can be effectively fostered throughout our community via our personal contacts each day. Water ambassadors are role models and play a useful leadership role.

What is a water ambassador?

It's someone who cares about using water wisely and can explain this enthusiastically to others. It's someone who can encourage other people to make a difference themselves.

It could be someone who works for a business that sells water-efficient products and services or a retirement village promoting waterwise gardening on its site tours. Perhaps it's a group of environmentally-minded youths who are keen to make a difference. It could be YOU!

When you register you'll receive:

• A welcome letter and membership number
• A Water Ambassadors badge to identify you to those you speak to about water-savings.
• A Question and Answer wheel to use when explaining water savings to others.
• A 'Splash' pen reminding us to 'Use water wisely'
• Invitations to attend member get-togethers
• Relevant news updates
• A listing on our membership file (optional).

If you require additional badges or message wheels, please contact frances.harrison@waitakere.govt.nz  (09) 836 8000 ext. 8461. Additional badges and other merchandising will be at members' cost.

You'll also be able to promote your advocacy efforts online

• Highlight your water-efficiency product or service via a special promotional offer
• Share your successes and case studies on water-efficiency on this site via news, stories, photos and videos

If you are an individual (rather than a business or organisation) you can still send us news on what you're achieving with your advocacy.

How can people be more waterwise?

• Check for leaks around the home - taps, the toilet, the shower
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving
• Use the washing machine only when it has a full load
• Have a short shower instead of a bath
• Use a watering can or trigger attachment on a garden hose to water plants
• Install a raintank plumbed into your laundry and toilet
• Follow waterwise gardening principles
• Collect rain in a rainbarrel to use for outdoor activities like watering the garden or cleaning the car.

For more detailed information on how to be more water-efficient check out our brochures.

What's Splash up to?

Splash is our official WANZ mascot and frequent water-efficiency 'spokesperson'. It appears on demand management promotional materials and the EcoWater pages of the Waitakere City Council website.

Splash's popularity has also lead to new Facebook and Twitter profiles, encouraging greater interaction with local and global communities.