Russell Palmer: Three waters 35-year contracts 'de facto' privatisation, academic warns

New Zealand's water services could be contracted out for up to 35 years under the Three Waters reforms, which academic Dr Jeff McNeill says amounts to "de facto" privatisation.

He says the government should put its legislation on hold until more is known about an economic regulator, but the government argues its bill will protect against asset sales - and the contracts are nothing new.