December 08, 2022
Water fix long overdue says Mahuta
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says councils have ignored water infrastructure problems for decades because of the political risk.
Her Water Services Bill putting fresh water, storm water and waste water infrastructure under the control of four large regional entities is expected to pass through parliament today.
She says rates alone can’t generate the level of investment needed.
“We’re doing it because we know it is the right thing to do but it’s challenging because councils are focusing on their ownership of the assets, they’re focusing on the problems of co-governance and they’re focusing on things which don’t create resilience in our communities around the way water services are delivered,” Minister Mahuta says.
Nanaia Mahuta says many rural communities, marae and papakainga still don’t have access to safe drinking water.