Rebellion mayor alliance opposes reforms

JULIA WADE

09 May, 2022

The ongoing saga of Three Waters continues to swell, with the government’s recent approval of controversial reforms causing a wave of condemnation from opposing forces.

After the government announced on April 29 that they have accepted the bulk of recommendations set by the 3 Waters Working Group (3WWG) – a task force of nine mayors and iwi representatives to look further into the governance and decision-making arrangements of the proposal – opposition alliance Communities 4 Local Democracy (C4LD) says the governments tactic to push water reforms ‘virtually unchanged is a worrying attack on property rights and community voice’.

In a media statement also released on April 29, C4LD chair and Manawatu district mayor Helen Worboys says ‘that despite some tinkering around the edges’ the model proposed by the government is still not ‘palatable for communities’.

“This is a dark day for local democracy as the government has continued to force this reform through without the consent of its stakeholders or their communities,” she says. “We could not be more disappointed they have rejected an opportunity to reach a bi-partisan agreement that would deliver what they wanted, electing to press on with their reform based on faulty assumptions and flawed analysis.”

Comprised of 31 councils, including Kaipara, C4LD’s release stated ‘The changes embed an unusual public shareholding model, where shareholders would have no rights other than the ability deciding to privatise services or not. They also propose another level of complexity in governance, taking most councils even further away from a position of influence’.

“Adding a Claytons shareholding for councils which confers none of the normal benefits or obligations of ownership, does nothing to remove our real worries about community property rights and local voice,” Worboys says.

“For us to hand over millions of dollars of assets our communities have paid for, in return for a single share of no real value is absolutely absurd. If the government can decide by decree to redefine ownership in this way it sets a worrying precedent over ownership on a far wider basis.”

While C4LD say the influence of councils in Three Waters ‘was already significantly flawed’ they have condemned the proposed new sub-regional groups which will potentially reduce the voice of smaller councils even more.

“Community input has also been further watered down… for many councils they’ll be moved from being two steps away from the decision makers to three. Our model has shown how the outcomes of the reform can be delivered… while still protecting local voice and community property rights.”

C4LD are still committed to working towards a more beneficial Three Waters model, and urge people to contact their local MPs, ‘to ensure they know what you think about this plan’.

“We’ll be encouraging significant local participation in the select committee process.”

n For more information about Communities 4 Local Democracy, visit communities4localdemocracy.co.nz/ideas

FURTHER READING: 

Council ownership of waters entities confirmed
Three Waters, mayor Smith wades in

Councils around the country are opposing government’s ground-breaking water reforms and resent being forced to hand over or lose ownership of their related assets. PHOTO/ANDRES SIIMON