The Democracy Action newsletter from earlier this month proves voters have been treated as “suckers” by Luxon/National because they are allowing local bodies to firmly embed co-governance into new water management structures!
“…will ensure that drinking water, stormwater and wastewater remain in local control.” was nothing but political duplicity and political double speak!
Once again we see Simon Watts, as Minister of Local Government, is carrying the co-governance torch for Luxon, prioritizing unelected influence over equal rights. Watts is acting as a frontman for Luxons broader strategy to further cement tribal authority.
This isn’t just a policy shift; Local water done well has turned out to be a deliberate watering down of every citizen’s democratic voice to empower a select few!
Watts is allowing the institutionalisation of co-governance structures that dilute the voting power of the broader citizenry. By centralising control within Māori leadership, the administration is effectively divesting the public of their right to equal democratic participation.
The below is from a 2023 e-mail sent out by National and titled “Local water done well”
This isn’t just a policy shift; Local water done well has turned out to be a deliberate watering down of every citizen’s democratic voice to empower a select few!
Watts is allowing the institutionalisation of co-governance structures that dilute the voting power of the broader citizenry. By centralising control within Māori leadership, the administration is effectively divesting the public of their right to equal democratic participation.
The below is from a 2023 e-mail sent out by National and titled “Local water done well”
Labour has pushed through Parliament its undemocratic and unpopular Three Waters policy which is an asset grab that would take water services off the local communities who own them, and transfer them to four mega-entities that have mandatory co-governance. It’s the wrong answer and no-one wants it.
National will repeal Three Waters and replace it with our Local Water Done Well plan. It will ensure that drinking water, stormwater and wastewater remain in local control.
Our plan
One – National will, in its first 100 days, repeal Labour’s Three Waters legislation and scrap the four mega-entities, with prescribed co-governance, that goes with them.
Two – We will restore council ownership and control, but with stronger central government oversight because we’re not simply going back to the old way of doing things that hasn’t worked.
Three – We will set strict rules for water quality, and for investment in infrastructure, so Kiwis don’t have to worry about sewage on their streets, un-swimmable beaches, or having to boil their drinking water.
Four – We will ensure water services are financially sustainable so that future generations don’t inherit outdated or failing infrastructure. Financial sustainability means there’s enough money coming in, either from rates or from user-pays, to cover the maintenance and depreciation of infrastructure and investment in new assets
Across New Zealand, new water service entities are being established under the Government’s “Local Water Done Well” framework, marking a significant shift in how water services are owned, controlled, and politically overseen.
In regions like Wellington, Waikato, and Hawke’s Bay, councils retain ownership on paper, but control shifts to independent corporatised entities with shared governance—reducing public influence and direct accountability to voters. These models also include iwi as decision-making partners, despite the government’s commitment to remove co-governance from public services.
Wellington
In metropolitan Wellington, five councils—Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt City, Porirua City, and Greater Wellington Regional Council— have partnered with Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika to establish a new, council-owned water services organisation to replace Wellington Water.
Strategic documents signal an emphasis on partnership with iwi and on incorporating concepts such as te mana o te wai and Treaty principles to guide the organisation’s approach.
The new partnership model, named Tiaki Wai, includes iwi in long-term planning, governance, and operational management. It will be owned by the five councils and overseen by a Partners Committee, which provides overall governance. The committee includes one elected member from each council and one representative from each mana whenua partner. It sets expectations for how Tiaki Wai will operate, agrees on its strategic direction, and appoints the Board of Directors, which makes decisions about how water services are planned, funded, and delivered, working within the direction set by the Partners Committee.
The public consultation on the initial Water Services Strategy is open from March 25 to April 22, 2026. You can provide feedback on the Tiaki Wai website.
For more information, see:
- Metropolitan Wellington Water Services Delivery Plan
- Constitution of Tiaki Wai Limited
- Partners Agreement in relation to Tiaki Wai Limited
- Tiaki Wai – Pathway to deliver improvements
- Tiaki Wai opens the books on challenges and costs of fixing water services
In the Waikato, Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council are transferring their drinking water and wastewater assets to IAWAI – Flowing Waters Ltd, which is intended to manage and operate the region’s water infrastructure, including treatment plants, reservoirs, and pipes. Stormwater assets will remain council-owned but are to be managed by IAWAI under contract.
IAWAI is jointly and equally owned by Hamilton and Waikato Councils but is governed by an independent board. A key feature is the partnership with Waikato-Tainui, intended to embed a Te Ao Māori perspective in water services, including mātauranga Māori and kaitiakitanga.
The model is grounded in recognition of Waikato-Tainui rights and interests in water, Treaty of Waitangi principles, and the Waikato River settlement framework, including Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato, which seeks “to restore and protect the physical, spiritual, and ecological health of the Waikato River from the mountains to the sea”.
Governance includes a formal co-governance forum—the nine-member IAWAI Forum, comprising three representatives each from Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, and Waikato-Tainui—which appoints a board of directors to oversee strategy, investment, and operations.
For more information, see:
Hawke’s Bay
In the Hawke’s Bay, Hastings District Council, the Napier City Council, and the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council are progressing a jointly owned Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO), expected to begin operations in 2027. Responsibility for water assets, service delivery, and investment decisions will transfer to this new entity, which will be governed by an independent board appointed on behalf of the shareholding councils.
The governance framework will include shareholder oversight arrangements and provision for iwi/hapū participation in decision-making processes, although the extent of that involvement is not yet clear.
A Shareholders’ Representative Forum will function as a coordination and advisory body to bring together the views of the three councils, with Hastings District Council voting to include an iwi representative from its area.
In the meantime, Hastings has initiated a joint forum to oversee the establishment of the new entity and the appointment of its board. Hastings three representatives are Mayor Wendy Schollum, Deputy Mayor Michael Fowler, and Mike Paku, Chair of the Heretaunga Takoto Noa Māori standing committee. *
*The Heretaunga Takoto Noa Māori Standing Committee was established by the Hastings Council to continue the development of strategic and sustainable relationships with Māori.
Further information
- Water Services Delivery Plan
- Agenda: HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, 2 April 2026
- Hastings District Council: Step forward for regional water services organisation
Hawkes Bay Today: Hastings councillors clash over mana whenua seat on new water forum
Act now!
- Contact the Prime Minister and Local Government Minister, Simon Watts, to remind them of their commitment to remove co-governance from public services.
Email: S.Watts@ministers.govt.nz
Prime Minister: C.Luxon@ministers.govt.nz.
- Talk to your local representatives.
- If you are a Wellington metro resident, make a submission on the initial Water Services Strategy before consultation closes on 22 April. You can provide feedback on the Tiaki Wai website.
Changes to water services are happening region by region—and often with little public visibility. New entities may already be proposed or underway in your area, so it’s important to stay alert and informed.
Look out for what’s happening in your region:
Look out for what’s happening in your region:
- Check your local council website for water reform proposals, consultations, or new entities being established
- Follow council agendas and announcements to see when water services are being discussed
- Stay informed about how these new organisations will operate and who makes the decisions
- Contact your local councillors and ask how these new structures remain accountable to residents
- Attend (or watch) council meetings and raise questions during public forums
- Write to the Minister of Local Government to express your views on water service governance. Email: S.Watts@ministers.govt.nz
- Talk to others—friends, neighbours, and community groups—most people are unaware that these changes could be underway in their area
- Encourage others to get involved and share information
- Consider setting up a simple email list or Facebook group to keep your community informed
Pee Kay writes he is from a generation where common sense, standards, integrity and honesty are fundamental attributes. This article was first published HERE
7 comments:
Truly baffling, How can Luxon and his party still expect people to vote for them? Only because the Left would be worse? Or, because a National/Labour unity government is the secret plan and so the He Puapua agenda will advance anyway? Does Luxon's total disdain for NZers extend this far?
Why is it that so little has been publicised about the consultation process of such a foundational change that will inevitably affect a very large proportion of the population? Submissions have now closed and unless there's a radical turn-around to what's proposed, I predict National will take a much deserved 'bath' this election. I'm sure I will be far from alone in being utterly disgusted by their duplicitous actions, for clearly they don't understand terms like democracy, appointments on merit, and 'equality' in the eyes of the law.
Yet, again, our elected forked-tongued politicians have let us down badly.
Water needs to be one of the major issues at the next election. There is no rational argument for water to be controlled by anyone other than by elected councillors for the benefit of all citizens. We appear to be installing a class of "overseers" who want to get paid for" just being there" not actually working in our interests.
Luxon is stubbornly refusing to govern for his voters. My prediction is many National list MPs losing their seats this election including Willis and Brownlee. Hutt South will probably revert back to Labour( boundary changes probably helped Bishop). So, he will go also.
This could be a good thing though for National voters as National will need to "totally reform" or remain irrelevant.
It is no use writing to these MPs they simply don't reply.
PK’s recommendations to our fellow citizens to watch what is happening and take action is a clear admission of this Govt’s dereliction to honour its pre-election promises. Neither Luxon or his official Climate Alarmist, Simon Watts should never have entered politics.
The current govt should hang their heads in shame!!!! Letting this happen is such a disgrace, not what NZers want or deserve.
Disgraceful !!!
If you think that this is all happening by accident, while National was in the bathroom, you probably also believe in the tooth fairy. We have either deluded fools or craven cowards running our govt, and that applies without exception to both major parties and all of the hangers on.
If Luxon hasn't even started addressing his first election promises, then this promises this year are also going to be lies.
Proven not to be trusted.
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