Western Bay council writing to PM, Local Govt minister over Three Waters reform

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announcing plans to mandate the Three Waters Reform. Photo / Mark Mitchell

An "absolutely angry" Western Bay of Plenty District Council is writing to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta with its "grave concern" at moves to force through Three Waters reforms.

But Mahuta has hit back at councillors' comments and defended the reform process.

The Three Waters reform mandate was raised at a council meeting today, drawing criticism from most councillors, with one voicing support.

It follows Mahuta's announcement last month that participation in the reform would be

The reform would see control of fresh, storm and wastewater assets shift from local councils to four new regional entities by July 2024.

Western Bay councillor Margaret Murray-Benge. Photo / NZME

At the meeting, councillor Margaret Murray-Benge said making council participation compulsory was "insulting". She made a motion for the council to write to Ardern and Mahuta expressing the council's dismay.

"This council is absolutely angry [Mahuta] decided to mandate that we have this system ... We need to write to better express our grave concern at her ability to mandate when, in fact, we should be out there consulting with our community."

Murray-Benge said the council did not run formal consultation but received about 500 submissions from concerned ratepayers who "don't want a bar" of the reforms.

She said in her opinion, ratepayers would not be better off under the new system and local residents and councils had been "played for absolute suckers".

She said they deserved to have their concerns heard, particularly when there was still so "little information" available, she said.

Western Bay mayor Garry Webber. Photo / NZME

Murray-Benge said the council was already delivering on the reform's purposes including ensuring safe drinking water, good water services and making these affordable for future generations.

Webber agreed with Murray-Benge's motion.

He listed a range of concerns with the reforms and said there was still "a lot of work" to be done.

The Western Bay had performed well so "we probably won't be worse off but we sure as hell won't be much better" under the Government's proposed reforms.

He said the Government should give all councils two years to adhere to new standards, to be overseen by water services regulator Taumata Arowai.

As part of Mahuta's announcement, she said the Government would create a working group to address issues raised by councils.

Western Bay councillor Mark Dean. Photo / NZME

Three upcoming Bills related to the reforms are expected to have public submissions and hearings: the Water Service Entities Bill; Water Service Entities (Implementation) Bill; and Economic and Consumer Protection Regulation of Water Services Bill.

Councillor James Denyer said he was concerned the council was led to believe it would be able to consult with the community so it held off doing, so only to have that opportunity taken away.

The different entities set to take over water assets managed by local councils. Image / Supplied

Councillor Kevin Marsh said he was against the reform.

"We pay a huge amount of rates to get our sewerage system and water assets up to scratch. Why would we want to give it away to the Government?"

Deputy mayor and councillor John Scrimgeour supported the motion but said he was not convinced it would change anything.

Only councillor Mark Dean voted against sending the letter: "Somebody has to make a stand and make a decision and get on an instigate change."

"We are finding a lot of people are finding excuses not to change. That's part of human nature but it has to be done."

After the meeting, Mahuta told the Bay of Plenty Times the Three Waters issue had been a four-year conversation with local councils and she did not accept councils suggesting they had not been involved.

Mahuta said elected members should have been keeping the community informed with "good information based on fact, not fear".

"I'm not sure many elected members see this as a vote winner. This is painting a very stark picture to ratepayers about what we really have to fund."

Mahuta said "everything" regarding Three Waters was publically available on the Department of Internal Affairs website. While she acknowledged it was "dense information", she expected elected members to have used it.

"As an elected representative, I take it upon myself to know and understand the information that I'm putting out in the public arena because that's my duty. My expectation on other elected members is no more or less."

Mahuta said if ratepayers knew the extent of systemic underinvestment in water infrastructure in New Zealand, "they would be pretty worried about it".

"Change is always scary but I do believe it will be the best way forward because we are looking for a financially sustainable pathway to get our water infrastructure up to spec," Mahuta said.