April 13, 2023
Ngāi Tahu accepts water reform challenge
Ngāi Tahu’s freshwater group says it will work with councils in its takiwā to ensure the success of the water infrastructure and services reform announced by government today.
The revamped three waters reform replaces the four planned national water services entities established by legislative reforms late last year with ten regional entities owned by local councils.
Te Kura Taka Pini co-chair Te Maire Tau says two of those entities fall in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā.
Ngāi Tahu’s preference remains a single takiwā entity involving all 22 councils and greater fiscal sustainability, but the revised plan is still better than the status quo.
He says the Government has made a trade offbetween more localised council representation and control on the one hand, and administrative efficiencies and economies of scale on the other.