To: The Hon. Simon Watts
cc: Prime Minister Luxon, Deputy Prime Minister Seymour, Winston Peters, Katie Nimon MP, Catherine Wedd MP.
Dear Minister Watts,
I write to you as a New Zealand citizen, taxpayer and ratepayer who is deeply concerned at the inclusion of co-governance in local water services being implemented by councils through the Coalition Government’s plan to address New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges, Local Water Done Well.
It is less than four years ago Nanaia Mahuta and Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government came so very close to gifting, if not outright ownership, then certainly control, of New Zealand’s freshwater to Maori by pushing the 3 Waters Reform Bill through parliament despite huge opposition.
And now we have the coalition government approving local “Water Services Delivery Plans” that explicitly include co-governance as part of the new water entities.
Before the 2023 General Election, your parties made clear commitments that co-governance would form no part of the replacement for Nanaia Mahuta’s Three Waters model and local water assets would remain under democratic control.
Those commitments you made to New Zealand are now being totally invalidated.
Rather than being appointed by and accountable to democratically elected councillors, regional water entity board members are appointed by and report to co-governed Partners’ Committees that include iwi representatives. Water management entities must answer to elected, not appointed, representatives of the communities!
Your Coalition Government’s “Local Water Done Well” is not only an abject failure to honour an election pledge it is an attack on the equal rights of all New Zealanders!
I urge you and the fellow addressees to please review your stance on Local Water Done Well and to take immediate action to ensure that water management remains in the control of democratically elected councillors.
Yours sincerely.
Pee Kay writes he is from a generation where common sense, standards, integrity and honesty are fundamental attributes. This article was first published HERE
And now we have the coalition government approving local “Water Services Delivery Plans” that explicitly include co-governance as part of the new water entities.
Before the 2023 General Election, your parties made clear commitments that co-governance would form no part of the replacement for Nanaia Mahuta’s Three Waters model and local water assets would remain under democratic control.
Those commitments you made to New Zealand are now being totally invalidated.
Rather than being appointed by and accountable to democratically elected councillors, regional water entity board members are appointed by and report to co-governed Partners’ Committees that include iwi representatives. Water management entities must answer to elected, not appointed, representatives of the communities!
Your Coalition Government’s “Local Water Done Well” is not only an abject failure to honour an election pledge it is an attack on the equal rights of all New Zealanders!
I urge you and the fellow addressees to please review your stance on Local Water Done Well and to take immediate action to ensure that water management remains in the control of democratically elected councillors.
Yours sincerely.
Pee Kay writes he is from a generation where common sense, standards, integrity and honesty are fundamental attributes. This article was first published HERE
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