The controversial of the government Three Waters Reform Program will be a major problem in local government elections, says National Party leader Christopher Luxon.
During a visit to Nelson on Thursday, Luxon said the government had not listened to “local democracy, local government and the local voice” about its plan to shift the management of the country’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater supplies from municipalities to four proposed water entities. .
“People across the country are feeling incredibly frustrated about it — quite understandably — because citizens and taxpayers have paid for these assets and they’re essentially being stolen and stuffed into these four mega-entities and that’s not right,” Luxon said.
His comments come the same week former National Member of Parliament Dr. Nick Smith – competing for mayor of Nelson — said the “loss of control” over the city’s water resources under the reform program was the main policy issue for the municipal elections.
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Martin De Ruyter/Stuff
National List Member of Parliament Maureen Pugh with party leader Christopher Luxon in Nelson on Thursday.
Luxon said there were some “challenges” with water management and National supported the creation of new Crown regulator Taumata Arowai to oversee the drinking water sector at the national level, which was a pillar of the reform program.
However, National believed that the assets should remain in local control and had have long promised to withdraw that aspect of the reform, if elected. Luxon said he didn’t think unraveling would be difficult.
“The great thing about this government is that it takes a long time to do something, so it can be easy,” he said. “We’re going to withdraw it and settle it because it’s not the right model.”
If there was a problem in a region, “a local community can best respond” and recommend municipalities find the best way to manage their patch’s assets.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all problem.”
Cherie Sivignon/Things
The view from the office of the Bell Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit, which is jointly owned by the Nelson City and Tasman District Boroughs.
Municipalities had come back with their own ideas for managing those assets, such as outsourcing, collaborating with neighboring municipalities, or using municipality-controlled organizations.
“They all had their ideas and they all put a lot of thought and effort into it, and they presented it to a minister who … had already made a predetermined decision before they sent in the submissions, and I just thought that was really unfair and a total sham,” said Luxon.
During a career spanning 30 years in central government politics, Smith held the Nelson seat for 24 years until 2020 when it was won by Labour’s Rachel Boyack.
Luxon said that while Smith was “a tough act to follow”, National would find someone “so good” who could vigorously advocate for Nelson to run in the 2023 general election.
MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF
National party leader Christopher Luxon on the “cost of living crisis” and his party’s economic plan.
If National came into government it would have a “major repair job” because the Labor government is “running everything, no delivery”.
In addition to issues related to education, health, housing and a number of rising crime statistics, “one in four Kiwis each month are really struggling to make ends meet… inflation has been at an all-time high for over 30 years”.
Candidate nominations for the municipal elections close on August 12, and postal voting is scheduled to begin on September 16. Election day is October 8.