Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says some councils are losing their way on the water infrastructure reforms.
The local body elections brought in a number of mayors and councillors who campaigned on opposing the so called Three Waters.
Ms Mahuta says the focus needs to be on creating a financially sustainable way of investing in infrastructure without hurting ratepayers.
“Meanwhile the councils are focusing on owning the assets. They’re talking about assets, not people. They’re talking about co-governance in a negative way rather than a positive way of enhancing decision-making,” she says.
Ms Mahuta says councils need to focus on communities that had previously missed out on good quality water can be serviced, including marae and papakainga and rural people generally.
