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March 09, 2022
Māori co-governance call in Three Waters tweak
Adam Gifford
Posted On March 9, 2022
Iwi and council representatives are recommending changes to the Three Waters reforms that will embed Māori in the governance of the proposed new entities to manage drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services.
The Three Waters Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability, which has been meeting weekly since early November, also endorsed the principle of Te Mana o te Wai being at the heart of the reforms.
Independent chair Doug Martin says that acknowledging the health and wellbeing of people and communities, depends on the health and wellbeing of water.
In its report to Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, the group recommends a public shareholding structure for the water assets being transferred into the four new regional entities.
Councils will own all the shares on behalf of their communities in a move designed to strengthen protections against privatisation.
Iwi representative Tukuroirangi Morgan says issues of ownership of water were put aside for another time.
The group also recommends the entities work on a consensus model of governance, as is already being done by the Waikato River Authority.
The report includes a dissent from Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who says the arrangements for the Area A entity don’t reflect the fact Auckland will provide 93 per cent of the assets.
He opposes ceding control over this infrastructure to other councils and mana whenua.
Minister Mahuta says Cabinet will consider the recommendations before finalising reform plans and introducing legislation.
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