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RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Legislation to implement Three Waters replacement passes third reading
'Local Water Done Well' is replacing Labour's Three Waters. (File photo) Photo: 123RF The government's final piece of legislation to implement 'Local Water Done Well' , replacing Labour's Three Waters, has passed its third reading. National MP Ryan Hamilton hailed the legislation, and said "hello localism, and choice" while Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi called it "an atrocious piece of work." The government has said the Local Government (Water Services) Bill and the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Bill provide a "flexible" framework for local councils to address challenges related to drinking-water, waste-water, and stormwater services. NZ First's Casey Costello led the debate, calling it the government's "urgently required" plan to "address challenges with New Zealand's water services." "Simply put, chronic underinvestment and the lack of sustainable management of local government water services has come home to roost." Costello said councils would be able to choose the best structure for "financially sustainable water services that meet regulatory requirements and local needs." NZ First's Casey Costello led the debate. (File photo) Photo: VNP / Louis Collins "I want to keep repeating that Local Water Done Well will maintain local ownership, choice, and decision-making. "That gives councils the best shot at identifying their most pressing problems and the right approach to solving them." National MP Ryan Hamilton hailed the passing of the government's Three Waters replacement. "Goodbye Three Waters, hello Local Water Done Well. Goodbye co-governance, hello locally chosen and designed options. "Hello localism and choice." NZ First's Jamie Arbuckle highlighted the removal of "co-governance" in the legislation. "Isn't it great to get rid of co-governance from this piece of legislation? Get rid of it! We are about New Zealanders. We are about Kiwis." But the opposition slammed the legislation, with Labour's Megan Woods saying it "shifts the financial risk" to councils and ratepayers. Labour's Megan Woods slammed the legislation. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone She criticised the government's response to Three Waters, and said it had got rid of the economies of scale and "the money that could have been saved", allowing for a "proliferation" of water service entities. "What the government said was 'oh no there's two few entities, there's not enough room for local decision making under the previous government plans'." But she said the changes had led to an average increase in water charges for households. Tangi Utikere, Labour's spokesperson for local government, echoed her, and said there was no adequate financial support to those councils for the changes the government was seeking to implement. Te Pāti Māori's Mariameno Kapa-Kingi criticised the government for "ignoring the role of Māori in the delivery of water services." "Removing these provisions is not progress, it is reform, it is regression and it is deeply and only racist." She said the bill in its thinking and design ignored and dismissed how "tangata tiriti get to live here", referencing Te Tiriti o Waitangi. She implored the government to "get the education" and concluded by saying "what an atrocious piece of work." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Invercargill to gain first new mayor since the 90s
Invercargill will soon have a new mayor, but this vote is different to recent ones. It's the first election since the 1990s that an incumbent hasn't sought re-election, with current Mayor Nobby Clark stepping down. Instead, eight candidates are competing to take the mantle - a mix of current councillors and new faces. Tess Brunton reports. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Oral Questions for Tuesday 19 August 2025
Questions to Ministers DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her statement that "This Government denounces sex-based discrimination in the workplace"; if so, does she think that the submission made by Pay Equity Aotearoa urging the United Nations to investigate whether the changes to pay equity law breach the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is consistent with this statement? CARL BATES to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made regarding lifting educational achievement? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What increased efficiencies has she seen across the Department of Internal Affairs? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon PEENI HENARE to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his actions in preparing the health system for winter 2025? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister for Building and Construction: What recent announcement has the Government made about the building consent system? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for the Public Service: Does she stand by her statement about public sector industrial action that "there's going to be a lot of options that we're looking at as a government"; if so, what specific options is the Government considering? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Associate Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about the Pages Road Bridge? To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
