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April 11, 2022
Three Waters best fix for poor councils
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On April 11, 2022
Download AudioA Māori district councillor with direct experience of what can happen when a water system fails is supporting the controversial Three Water Reforms.
Bayden Barber was first elected to the Hastings council in 2016, as it was trying to deal with campylobacter contamination in Havelock North’s water which made more than 5000 residents sick, put 45 in hospital, and possibly killed three.
He also sits on the National Three Waters Steering Group.
He says the reform represents the partnership that local government has long sought with central government around infrastructure.
“How do we get safe drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services to our communities without putting that load entirely on our ratepayers because they cannot afford it and if I think about some of our smaller rural councils, it’s just totally out of this world to be able to afford that type of infrastructure,” Mr Barber says
He says many Māori communities are currently poorly served by water infrastructure.
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