Cook Islands Parliament has confirmed that they have received a report from Rarotonga’s water authority Minister in response to the final Report on the review of the "Keep our water free" (KOWF) Petition 2024.

Deputy Clerk of Parliament Tai Manavaroa confirmed yesterday that the Clerk Tangata Vainerere received To Tatou Vai (TTV) Minister Albert Nicholas report on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Nicholas, who oversees the water authority portfolio, was set to report to the Bills, Petitions and Papers Committee on the actions taken to implement recommendations from the KOWF Petition review presented in February’s Parliament Sitting.

The Bills, Petitions and Papers Committee chaired by Member of Parliament for Manihiki, Akaiti Puna  agreed with the petition that the collection, treatment and reticulation of water continues without tariffs and ongoing-charge to user subject to reasonable tariffs be imposed to commercial users and a system that imposes a reasonable penalty for wastage.

Also, that commercial users to be defined taking into account- agriculture users, small businesses (market vendors).

The Bills, Petitions and Papers Committee had agreed for TTV to be funded by the government.

It is anticipated that DPM Nicholas will meet with the "Keep Our Water Free" (KOWF) Petition committee next week.