A petition has been launched urging the Government to reconsider mandatory chlorination of Christchurch’s water supply.

As first reported by Chris Lynch Media, Government water regulator Taumata Arowai declined the Christchurch City Council’s chlorine exemption applications.

The remaining 20% of the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula water supply is now required to be chlorinated which will take a number of weeks.

A Taumata Arowai communications spokeswoman said the agency will not be commenting on the matter because the announcement was “just in its draft form.”

However, Christchurch City Council staff have already started the chlorination process on Tuesday.

Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty is refusing to comment, with his office telling Chris Lynch Media it was purely an “operational matter” and it would be “inappropriate for the minister to comment.”

Meanwhile, Christchurch City Councillor Sam MacDonald launched a petition today calling on the Minister of Local Government to intervene.

“The people of Christchurch have told us consistently they do not want Chlorine in our water, we all agreed with the regulator being established but we were always assured that exemptions would be achievable,” said MacDonald.

“Now we are being told that the goalposts have moved again and that Chlorination will effectively be mandatory.”

Macdonald said “in a democracy like New Zealand, we should not just take this – I am launching a petition today calling on the Minister of Local Government to intervene we need a sensible approach. Elected members regardless of central or local government have an obligation to stand up for people.”

“I hope people will sign my petition here: https://chng.it/jqygHy8Zkf