Water Reform

[Brent George]

The Plan:
All New Zealanders deserve safe, reliable and affordable water services that support good health and sustainable environmental outcomes.

But, Aotearoa’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater—our three waters—networks are facing a crisis and will continue to do so without big changes.

The Government, working with councils, is proposing to build a better system for our three waters that is still owned by the communities it serves.
Three Waters - NZ Government


The Responses:
South Island Mayors:
Stuff - National: 26-Auguist-2021

Canterbury Councils:
Stuff - The Press: 23-August-2021

Announcement Report:
Radio NZ News: 2-July-2021

[Brent George]

Government pushes ahead with Three Waters reform, will take water services from Councils
Stuff - Politics: 27-Oct-2021
The Government has decided to push ahead with Three Waters reforms, and take control of water services and assets from local councils, despite considerable opposition.


Government's decision to force water reforms 'a dark day for democracy.
Stuff - Politics: 27-Oct-2021

A leading Christchurch councillor has branded the Government a “revolting pack of thieving liars” over its plans to push through water reforms.

James Gough said he was in “utter disbelief” over the Government’s plan to put legislation in place to transfer control of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure from 67 councils to four new water entities.

[Brent George]

Pause on Three Waters reforms suggests Government may be spooked by public backlash
Stuff - Opinion: 14-Dec-2021

In a curious twist to round out Parliament’s pre-Christmas legislative rush, the Government has pressed pause on introducing the legislation to give life to its Three Waters reforms.

When Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta confirmed in October the Government’s intentions to forcibly strip the water infrastructure and services from 67 councils and create four mega-regional water entities, the enabling legislation was scheduled to be introduced prior to Christmas.

But on Thursday under questioning, Leader of the House Chris Hipkins impishly confirmed that the legislation would be delayed.

[Brent George]

Three Waters working group recommends councils take shareholding of new entities
Stuff - Politics - 9-March-2022

A Three Waters working group has recommended that local councils take direct and proportionate shareholdings of four new public water entities the Government intends to create.

The recommendation was one of 47 proposed by a Government-appointed working group of mayors and iwi representatives that has spent more than three months consulting on the contentious reform of the country’s three waters services – drinking, waste and storm water.

The group’s report, provided to Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta earlier this week, was made public on Wednesday.

The working group recommended that councils become shareholders of the new water entities, with one share being allocated to each council for every 50,000 people within their territory.

[Brent George]

Local Govt Minister Nanaia Mahuta dispels 'Mistruths' about Three Waters
Stuff - National:-18 May-2022

Local Government minister Nanaia Mahuta has taken a moment during a Christchurch speech to “dispel some mistruths” about the controversial three waters reforms she is leading.

Mahuta gave a keynote address and hosted a short Q&A at Water New Zealand’s Stormwater conference in Christchurch on Wednesday.

[Brent George]

Say goodbye to Three Waters: Government overhaul of contentious reforms set to be announced
Stuff - Politics: 13-April-2023

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will on Thursday announce "significant change" to the Government's Three Waters reform, including a rebranding of the controversial overhaul of the country's water services.

Hipkins has so far this week declined to confirm reports he will split the proposed model of four public water entities for the country into a 10-entity scheme. Such a change would not be enough to satisfy the reform’s most strident critics within local government, who are set to be told of the new plan hours before the public.

“There will be significant change in that policy,” Hipkins said on Monday, of the “imminent” Three Waters announcement.

Already scrapped is the term “Three Waters”, which Hipkins said had become “somewhat confused”. The new title for the reforms appears to be “affordable water infrastructure improvements”

[Brent George]

Who owns the water? Māori do
Stuff - Opinion: 18-Apr-2023 - John Tamihere

If we were playing Jeopardy, the answer is Māori, and the winning question is, who owns the water?

What is bizarre to me is that people who have stolen an asset are now having a debate about the rights over it.

We reject co-governance because we want to have the appropriate conversation about the elephant in the room: how did Pākeha get to the table on a 100% Māori-owned asset?