Hawke's Bay residents will be standing alongside others in nationwide rallies today to protect New Zealand's water.
Today's rally outside the Hawke's Bay Regional Council will be one of 15 held across the country, to coincide with the delivery of a New Zealand Water Forum petition to Parliament.
"Bung the Bore" spokeswoman Jen Branje has driven the petition from Invercargill to Wellington, gathering over 16,000 signatures to hand to Labour MP David Parker at midday.
The petition calls for a "moratorium on all New Zealand water exports, to such a time that acceptable legislation is in place to protect this precious resource from private profiteering".
Water quality, and water bottling have been contentious topics in Hawke's Bay, especially following the contamination of Havelock North's water supply last year.
Around 50 people are expected to rally this afternoon outside the regional council- the body responsible for issuing, and monitoring water consents.
Recently it agreed all water bottling consent applications would need to be publicly notified.
To ensure the protection of the country's water, rally co-ordinator Heather Scherger said people could not wait for the Government to act "because we have too much to lose".
"I'm very concerned about the way we're treating our water and not respecting it," she said. "By getting people together as a group we can change things.
"This is the most important thing New Zealand is facing right now."
Council chairman Rex Graham was unable to attend the rally, but said it was good people were rallying for water, and it was "really good it's at the forefront of people's minds".
Ms Branje was part of a movement which stopped a water-bottling plant in Ashburton.
The organiser was amazed by the nationwide event's popularity, and proud of those who were "coming out to stand up for our water".
She partly attributed this to a freshwater swimming policy announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith last month - which has been criticised as "shifting the goalposts" on water quality.
Today she will hand the petition to Labour's environment, and water spokesman David Parker.
It is directed to the House of Representatives so any incoming government "has to address it".
-Save our Water rally begins at midday outside the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier.