At the end of the day, the only serious change I can see here is switching from four monstrous and unwieldy administrations to 10 monstrous and unwieldy administrations.
We're told this means every council gets a seat at the table. But despite the Prime Minister's insistence co-governance is long gone from Three Waters, it's not.
Māori will still have unelected representation on these 'regional representative groups', with their job being to exercise and offer "strategic oversight and direction".
However, they try to spin it, these changes are still a theft of ratepayer assets.
Millions down the drain already on a broken plan which still doesn't have proper buy-in, because it's still burdened by this unwelcome and undemocratic co-governance element.
How many times Chippy? Read the room.
No one's arguing with the basic facts that drinking water isn't up to scratch in some communities.
Wastewater and stormwater are probably much bigger problems, especially given that they're getting mixed together all too often.
We're told we need to spend $180 billion to bring things into the 21st century. That's around $35,000 for every man, woman and child in the country.
Does the Government really think New Zealanders can't work out that if this money isn't coming from their rates, it's coming from somewhere else?
That somewhere else is taxes. There is no magic money tap. If it's being funded by central Government, it's being funded by debt. Debt you and I will have to pay back.
And what about rural people who manage their own water collection and pay to have the septic emptied every now and then?
Well, there's a bonus for you - you get to subsidise the cities through your taxes.
To be fair to Hipkins, he inherited a sow's ear in Three Waters. Fat chance of making a silk purse from that.
Tim Dower is a New Zealand journalist who works for Newstalk ZB as a newsreader and substitutes talkback announcer. This article was first published HERE
However, they try to spin it, these changes are still a theft of ratepayer assets.
Millions down the drain already on a broken plan which still doesn't have proper buy-in, because it's still burdened by this unwelcome and undemocratic co-governance element.
How many times Chippy? Read the room.
No one's arguing with the basic facts that drinking water isn't up to scratch in some communities.
Wastewater and stormwater are probably much bigger problems, especially given that they're getting mixed together all too often.
We're told we need to spend $180 billion to bring things into the 21st century. That's around $35,000 for every man, woman and child in the country.
Does the Government really think New Zealanders can't work out that if this money isn't coming from their rates, it's coming from somewhere else?
That somewhere else is taxes. There is no magic money tap. If it's being funded by central Government, it's being funded by debt. Debt you and I will have to pay back.
And what about rural people who manage their own water collection and pay to have the septic emptied every now and then?
Well, there's a bonus for you - you get to subsidise the cities through your taxes.
To be fair to Hipkins, he inherited a sow's ear in Three Waters. Fat chance of making a silk purse from that.
Tim Dower is a New Zealand journalist who works for Newstalk ZB as a newsreader and substitutes talkback announcer. This article was first published HERE
4 comments:
There was a reader survey on Stuff yesterday. Yeah/Nah on 3 Waters reform?
There were 35,000 respondents and 78% said Nah. We are not bloody stupid Chippy Chappy!
We are angry, we will vote for anyone but Labour! Bring it on.
MC
It's clear the 'refresh' still proceeds on the same basis of the original fundamental falsehood of a 'Treaty Partnership' that overrides normal democracy; that, Maori, alone, have a "special" relationship with water (and sewerage?) and that, the aforementioned altogether somehow entitles them to a wholly disproportionate overriding say-so in everything about it. Moreover, that even the Govt. acknowledges that the expanded bureaucratic behemoth will be more expensive and that there will be few if any economies of scale. Add in all the money that will be spent on all these superfluous boardroom seats at the extra tables in new offices (somewhere); the other costs of the multi-tier bureaucracy and the provision and addressing of the Mana o Te Wai statements that only Maori can provide, it's destined to be an expensive disaster that, sooner or later, will ultimately be repealed - but at what cost in the interim? One thing we should have learned, this Govt. knows how to spend a great deal of money to achieve very little and if you think this novel, untested, truly massive undertaking will somehow miraculously turn out well, you (and everyone else) will be very disappointed and, naturally, the poorer for it in everyway imaginable.
One must wonder if the proponents of this reform would be just as happy if the 'partnership/disproportionate seats at the table' aspect was removed - or if all Maori oversight input was to be 'gifted' at no cost to the general public? But, of course, we all know the answer to that and if you can't see what the unmandated real urgency and motive is behind this whole reform, then you are just being as anti-democratic, racially centric, and economic with the truth as those promoting it.
Tim you are being too kind to Chumpy (that’s what I will call him now). He was at the table that devised the three water sow ear
This has never primarily been about water, its all about the implementation of HePuapua. The water is the only the platform they have used. It must be stopped!
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