Politics & Governance / Public Policy / Environmental & Climate Policy

The River Is My Ancestor: Why Decolonising Water Management Is the Only Way Forward

What if the freshwater crisis isn’t just about pollution, but about a 200-year-old colonial war on nature? This video unpacks the groundbreaking research on decolonising blue spaces in Aotearoa New Zealand. Author and scholar challenges the mainstream view of the Anthropocene, arguing it began not with the industrial revolution, but with colonial invasion. Using the Waipā River as a case study, we reveal how draining wetlands and destroying forests turned a life-giving ancestor into a toxic drain. You’ll learn why Māori see rivers as family, not resources, and how Western laws fail to protect them. Discover the shocking truth: the same systems that poisoned the water now control its ‘restoration.’ This is a must-watch for anyone who cares about environmental justice, indigenous rights, or the future of our planet. Get ready to rethink everything you know about water.