North Canterbury News: November 04, 2021

Forced reform angers mayors
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Forcing water reforms on North
Canterbury communities has angered
localmayors.
The MayorsofWaimakariri, Hurunui
and Kaikoura, say the Government has
ignored feedback from their residents on
the Three Waters Reform,and are
disappointed it is forging aheadwith
legislation that will makeitmandatory for
councils nationwide to transfercontrol of
theirthree waters infrastructure.
This is despite an option to opt­out being
announced early in the reformprocess,
and calls for the Governmenttopause, and
reflect on the feedback from councils up
and down the country.
Waimakariri Mayor DanGordonand
Hurunui MayorMarie Blacksay they are
bitterlydisappointedwith the
announcement by the MinisterofLocal
GovernmentNanaiaMahuta that the
reforms willbemandatory.
This is despite bluntand lengthy
submissions to her expressing their
opposition.
KaikouraMayor Craig Mackle says her
announcement is ‘‘unbelievable’’ and is
‘‘much, muchbiggerthan the threewaters,
it goesback to democracy’’.
Mr Gordon saysGovernment has
concededtowork with local government to
ensure there is adequate governance,
representation and accountability, but he
is ‘‘exceptionally’’ disappointed at the
mandatorynature of the reform,and the
lack of informationhis council has
received,despiteaformal request for
more information.
‘‘This is especially so as all councils
entered into this reform process on the
understanding that this was achoice,’’ he
says.
“Our analysis showed the argument for
change for our community from the
Governmentisflawed,and Iamupset and
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extremely concerned that this proposal is
being forced on us.
‘‘We received avery clear message that
95 percent of respondents to our
community survey told the councilthat
they wanted us to retainlocal decision
making,control and influenceofour
assets.’’
Mr Gordonsays the councilhad
approached the review of Three Watersin
good faith and hopedthe Government
would showsimilar goodfaith, respecting
the decision of themajority of councilsto
opt­out of the reform.
‘‘We hoped they would at leastpress
pause to allow more timetofullyconsider
the proposal based on the feedback from
local government.
“Throughout thisprocessthe council
always maintainedthat quality drinking
water and better environmental outcomes
are essentialand we wereopen to change.
Where we disagreed was withthe fixed
view on the solution.Our residents also
didn’t support this fixed view and willbe
angry to hear this is beingforced on them.’’
Mrs Black saysthe council engaged with
the government on its proposed Three
Waters Reform Programme on the basis
that any outcomes from the process would
be voluntary and all councilswouldhave
the opportunity to opt out of any proposed
reform.
Councillors and councilofficers
undertook arobustinformal public
consultation process togaugepublic
opiniononthe proposed reforms.
‘‘Therewas aresoundingnotohanding
over thethree watersassets to
government.’’
This flew in the face of previous
assurancesgiven by the Minister that the
processwouldbevoluntary.
‘‘This is not how local democracy
works,’’ says Mrs Black.
She says that like other councils across
New Zealand, the HurunuiDistrict
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Council entered the agreement with
central government under the beliefthere
wouldbeacollective assessmentand
understanding of the impact of the
proposed reformontheirown district.
‘‘Thegovernmenthas not honoured this
agreement.The provision for opting out
was always there,ithas neverbeen
challenged or taken off thetable,until
now.
‘‘We find ourselves in asituation where
we havebeen removed from ademocratic
decision making process.’’
Mr Macklesays nobodyhas spoken
directly to his council.
‘‘We havea$57 millionassetand they’re
saying we need to spend $280milliononit,
but they can’t explainit.
‘‘It’s not good that you can justdothat
without without answering questions. I’ve
asked simple questions severaltimes and
they’ve never been answered.’’
While he acknowledges reform is
needed, Mr Mackle suspects something
moresinisterisathand and wonders if the
Three Waters reform is justthe beginning.
‘‘It’s amalgamationbystealth,’’ he says.
‘‘This is biggerthan the Three Waters
reform and Ihave grave concerns forthe
future of local democracy and democracy
in general in New Zealand.’’
Taking away Three Waters assets will
potentially make many councils, including
Kaikoura unviable,hesays.
‘‘They are taking away our biggest asset,
so it cuts our ability to borrow and it means
you cannottake on any major building
projects. Majorprojectsneed to be intergenerational
so the costs are shared over
the generations who will benefitfrom
them, so you need to have the ability to
borrow.’’
On the otherhand,MrMackle wonders
if the government’s plan is to ‘‘overinflate’’the
value of the country’s Three
Waters infrastructure so it candoubleits
borrowing capability.
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North Canterbury News, November 4, 2021
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