Anger at Three Waters call

Waipā District Council and Federated Farmers have reacted angrily to the government’s decision to take away its water assets in favour of four new mega entities.

Nanaia Mahuta

Local Government minister Nanaia Mahuta made the announcement yesterday that its Three Waters reforms – drinking, waste, and storm water – would go ahead.

Under the plan, four publicly-owned multi-regional entities will take on responsibility for the country’s water infrastructure – a role now carried out by 67 local authorities.

Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest said councils had acted in good faith, but the government had now removed communities’ rights to have a voice on the future of water entities.

Jim Mylchreest

He called on Local Government New Zealand to consider any legal avenues available, particularly whether the government was constitutionally allowed to make the decision it did.

“I don’t think the (Waipā) community is ready to accept this and they would expect us to fight.”

Waipā councillor Susan O’Regan, who represents a rural ward and been a vocal opponent around the council table, said she was “furious” at the decision.

“It is unacceptable that the minister has refused to listen to the overwhelming opposition expressed not only by councils the length of the country but from its citizens.

Susan O’Regan

“Mandating these reforms in the face of this almost unanimous opposition clearly sends the message this government is focused on fulfilling its ideological agenda rather than consider the views of its citizens,” she said.

“It is clearly an audacious move in an unpopular week for this government.”

Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard urged rural residents to “gear up” to have their say.

New Zealanders have voiced serious misgivings over the government’s plans, he said.

“We remain opposed to this plan.

“The government’s announcement today that this will be mandatory is a huge call.”

More Recent News

Wastewater cost explained

Waipā District Council has explained why the cost to upgrade Te Awamutu Wastewater Treatment Plant rose from $19 million to $48 million. The News revealed in November the upgrade costs to the council for the…

Clam cash confirmed

Regional councillors have voted to allocate more than $400,000 to buy equipment for its fight against golden clams. Corbicula fluminea was found in the Waikato River in May 2023 and is an invasive, fast breeding…

Now you cross it, now you don’t

It was good while it lasted and well appreciated. That’s the view on the re-opening of the Karāpiro Dam road between December 21 and Sunday night when it closed again for several months. But two…

Obituary – Life and times tables

Victor (Vic) Petrie was a numbers man. He gave 46 years to education, and during the 27 he spent at Cambridge Middle School (Cambridge Intermediate in his day), he was as tenacious about teaching the…