Three Waters reform rethink: Hawke's Bay councils call for Government to allow regional approach

Hawke's Bay local government leaders and iwi are committed to Three Waters Reform but are "not convinced" by the Government's current proposal. Photo / NZME

Local government leaders and iwi across Hawke's Bay have rejected the Government's initial proposal for the Three Waters Reform, writing to the Minister of Local Government asking for a "rethink of the model".

Reform of the country's drinking, storm and wastewater services was announced last year following the results of an inquiry into the Havelock North water crisis in 2016 where thousands of its residents became ill with campylobacteriosis.

The outbreak is believed to have impacted 5500 of the town's 14,000 residents, leading to the hospitalisation of 45 and deaths of four people.

Under the current proposal, responsibility for Hawke's Bay's Three Waters services would transfer to a regional entity comprising 21 councils from the East Coast of the North Island to the top of the South Island and the Chatham Islands.

The Three Waters Reform was announced in Havelock North last year. Photo / NZME

Mayors, councillors and iwi representatives from the Wairoa District Council, the Napier City Council, the Hastings District Council, the Central Hawke's Bay District Council, and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council met earlier this week to provide feedback on the impact of what's proposed, and to put forward any questions that remain unanswered.

They have since written to Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta requesting further information and setting out why the current proposal will not satisfy the Three Waters service delivery needs of Hawke's Bay.

Concerns about affordability of the scheme, local employment opportunities, and regional representation, particularly of mana whenua, were among their chief concerns.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the reforms had started with them, which was why it was so important to the district and the region.

"Since the 2016 Havelock North water crisis, which had a devastating impact on our people, safe drinking water remains our council's number one priority.

"To make sure such an event never happens again, the Hastings District Council has invested more than $82m million on safe drinking water."

She said they were all in agreement about the Government's case for change and the need for stronger water standards and the new water regulator.

"However, under the new government reform, with our regional partners, we are concerned that the proposed model of being part of one large entity to look after 21 councils and a million people across a large geographic area and two islands will meet the needs of our urban and rural communities."

Hastings District No 2 bore on Brookvale Rd, Havelock North, is believed to have been the source of the gastro outbreak in 2016. Photo / NZME

Localism was important to the region's success, she said.

"Hawke's Bay can demonstrate tangible success locally and regionally – achieved through the power of community action via civic leadership.

"We are not convinced that what Government is proposing will allow for us to continue meeting our commitment to ensuring Three Waters services contribute to the Hawke's Bay region's social, economic, cultural and environmental prosperity."

Napier mayor Kirsten Wise was concerned that local voices "would be lost" under the government proposal.

"One of our bottom lines for any new arrangement is that Hawke's Bay must have direct representation and a strong voice on a water entity's governing board, and that includes mana whenua," she said.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the reforms started with them, which was why it was so important to them. Photo / NZME

Craig Little, mayor of Wairoa, was most concerned about questions of affordability.

"Government is telling us what the new model would mean in terms of cost savings for households in 2051, but they're yet to show us what the costs would be on day one under their new model.

"We simply cannot have a proper conversation with our communities about whether or not they will be better off under the Government's model without knowing what costs they would be up for on day one."

There was also a need to retain capability and jobs locally, he said.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chair Rick Barker said they had asked Local Government Minisiter Nanaia Mahuta to consider a Hawke's Bay regional approach. Photo / NZME

Central Hawke's Bay mayor Alex Walker said a review of the region's Three Water systems had already been done last year, creating a regional approach that would achieve affordability and sustainability for all of Hawke's Bay's communities.

"We are not convinced the proposal Government has put forward will meet the needs of our communities, on a number of levels," she said.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rick Barker said they had asked Minister Mahuta to consider this regional approach instead.

"Experience has shown us that when working together and to our respective strengths, local and central government and iwi can complement each other to deliver better outcomes for all."