22 Special report: Dairy down south Vol 20 No 9, March 14, 2022
farmersweekly.co.nz
Three Waters report falls short Colin Williscroft
F
colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz
EEDBACK from the Government’s Three Waters working group was “predictably disappointing” and falls well short of what was needed, an organisation representing almost half of New Zealand’s territorial local authorities says. Communities 4 Local Democracy He hapori mō te Manapori chair and Manawatū District mayor Helen Worboys said the Government stymied working group members with their terms of reference, making any chance of real change impossible. She said the working group was only asked to provide feedback on the Government’s model and not encouraged to come back with alternatives. “This was an opportunity for genuine engagement with local councils and mana whenua, but the Government deliberately limited the scope of the group so it posed no threat to its bottom lines on Three Waters,” Worboys said. “There was widespread hope that working party feedback might result in real change to the policy, and our group even commissioned and presented alternative models that we believed meet Government and community objectives. “Even the small movement on the ownership side falls short of what is needed.”
Last October, the Government announced it would introduce legislation to establish four new publicly owned Water Service Entities (WSEs) to manage the three waters (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater) infrastructure that has been operated by or for councils up to now. Concerns raised at the time led to the formation of the working group, which released its report last week. Recommendations include instituting a public shareholding structure that protects community ownership, with shares held by councils on behalf of their communities. Councils would have the right to vote on any proposal for WSEs to be sold or privatised. The report recommends to strengthen protections against privatisation, councils should have to agree unanimously for an asset to be sold. “No privatisation could occur unless every shareholder council agreed, and councils would be required to consult with their communities,” the report said. The working group also called for tighter accountability from each WSE board to the community. It recommends strengthening and clarifying the role of Regional Representative Groups (RRGs) and, to ensure smaller communities, including rural, are better heard it wants local advisory groups to feed into RRGs.
Bringing Field Days to you Don’t miss out... Call 0800 731 501 cs@am.gallagher.com
M6000i
Mains Fence Energizer
Local Government NZ (LGNZ) has welcomed the report, especially the proposal for council shareholding to strengthen community ownership, added protections against privatisation and stronger mechanisms for local voice, as well as an increased focus on the health and wellbeing of water. LGNZ President Stuart Crosby said the working group’s recommendations should go a long way to providing councils and communities with the added protection they were asking for. “Of the concerns raised by councils and the public, possibly the loudest was a sense that ownership of the assets paid for by communities over many years was being taken from them,” Crosby said. “Having councils hold shares in the new entities on behalf of their communities is a critical change that responds directly to that feedback. Worboys said Communities 4 Local Democracy has presented two alternative three waters models: council-owned with stronger regulation and a new council-owned enterprise model. She said both its models meet all the Government’s bottomline objectives – ranging from meaningful partnerships with mana whenua to appropriate balance sheet separation. Cabinet will now consider the working group’s recommendations before finalising reform plans and introducing legislation.
$3.95
Sour taste
QUESTIONING: Gisborne kiwifruit grower Tim Tietjen has found himself at the centre of a test case where his 3.11ha SunGold orchard’s valuation is now based on the additional value of the kiwifruit licence it holds. Growers and councils in kiwifruit country are watching the case closely. Read the full story on P10. Photo: Phil Yeo
FREE
I-SERIES REMOTE/ FAULT FINDER VALUED AT
$2,376.00 Pure power, with intelligent fence monitoring technology. Suitable for farms up to 600 acres or 240 hectares. App enabled.
$353
Incl GST
here to view Field Days deals online
