Maslow's hierarchy of needs and water management

摘要

The close bonds between humans and their water supplies follows from the crucial role of water in the societal development of our species. These bonds, which go deeper than our physiological requirements for drinking water and food production, point to the many human needs associated with water. Maslow's (1954) ‘hierarchy of needs', a psychological theory of human motivation, has six drivers of behaviour, arranged by prepotency: physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, self- actualisation, and self-transcendence. Behaviours related to water resources (and corresponding needs) include pursuit of drinking water (physiological); provision of water legislation and water-supply security (safety); community actions to provide water supplies (belongingness and love); economic development (esteem); altruism and education (self-actualisation) ; and 'big- picture' thinking about the resource (self- transcendence). The evolution of the New Zealand national water regulatory framework beginning with the Resource Management Act 1991 is demonstrated within the Maslow framework. These policies, regulations and legislation represent advances associated with three needs: safety (e.g., better drinking- water standards), belongingness and love (improved community engagement) and self-transcendence (inclusion of Maori belief systems). However, two needs (esteem and self-actualisation) are not, or are poorly, provided by the regulatory framework. In contrast, a regional water policy, the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, addressed these two needs. Esteem-need behaviours were demonstrated by inclusion of organisations that promote economic development, e.g., the Canterbury Mayoral Forum and agricultural irrigators. Self- actualisation behaviours were demonstrated by sub-regional water committees (altruism) and the formation of the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management by Canterbury and Lincoln universities (education). Future research is recommended to assess deepe