April 29, 2022
Water reforms set to go
The Government has agreed to almost all the recommendations of the Representation, Governance and Accountability Working Group of its Three Waters reforms, including oversight from iwi co-governance boards working on a consensus basis.
This clears the way for legislation to shift councils’ freshwater, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to four regional bodies.
The working group was made up of mayors and iwi representatives from around the country with an independent chair.
Its recommendations included further protections to keep water assets in public ownership, ensuring mana whenua have input in the delivery of water services and embracing the principle of te mana o te wai – that the health and well-being of the water is protected and human health needs are provided for before enabling other uses of water.
Other working groups are looking at technical aspects of the reforms and rural water schemes.