Nanaia Mahuta

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says councils have ignored water infrastructure problems for decades because of the political risk.

It's the first of three bills that will ensure affordable drinking water, wastewater and storm water services can be provided to Kiwis, Nanaia Mahuta said.

"It turns out that infrastructure, which includes big subdivision developments, wastewater and stormwater networks, and drinking-water treatment plants, is the perfect place for long-term institutional investors to invest. "There are billions of dollars in private and institutional capital looking for a home right now," he said. National, ACT, the Green Party and Te Paati Māori all voted against the reforms, formally known as the Water Services Entities Bill. National and ACT have both promised to repeal the legislation, emphasising their desire to see control and ownership of water services remain with councils and their opposition to co-governance. National MP Simon Watts, the party's spokesperson on three waters, said the law was one of the most controversial pieces of public policy in this term of government, with the majority of 88,000 public submissions against it. "We've got a corporate structure now, we need to invest in three waters, but because we don't have public ownership for three waters safeguarded against a simple majority in Parliament, we think there's a big risk there."

Hamilton West byelection turnout tracking at less than 40% of general election. Kaipara's mayor has backed down on his decision to ban karakia at council ...

It explained the risks and difficulties associated with “direct donation” and the fact that the Covid-19 vaccination would not impact the safety of the blood being used during the surgery. And, Little said “many more” are in the pipeline. There’s been a lot of talk this week about Pharmac’s approach to the announcement it would be funding Trikafta, the potentially life-saving cystic fibrosis drug. Meanwhile, the health minister has today announced another “important” drug will be granted public funding: Spinraza. Want to read The Bulletin in full? The Hamilton West byelection was triggered by the resignation of Gaurav Sharma from parliament, which followed a series of claims about bullying that led to his expulsion from the Labour caucus. A Curia poll for the Taxpayers’ Union puts National’s Tama Potaka in the lead, on 46%, with Labour candidate Georgie Dansey on 33% and sitting list MP for ACT on 12%. The Greens had largely supported three waters up to this time and had voted in favour of it at first and second reading. Had supported it through all stages but made a decision in caucus on Tuesday to not support the third reading today as it lacks anti-privatisation provisions and other changes. The total turnout in the June byelection in Tauranga was 20,784, or 40.5% of those enrolled. It will take a surge in the last couple of days of advance voting and election day itself for turnout in the Hamilton West byelection to hit even 30% turnout of enrolled voters. In the 2020 general election in Hamilton West the corresponding figure was 19,996.

“Seeping sewage into our pristine lakes like Taupō” is the picture embattled Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta painted as she for the last time sought ...

Our wai is in crisis, and we need transformation, not tinkering.” He said National would come up with its own solution that would “achieve the desired outcomes for our communities without the loss of control and complexity that this Labour water services entities model brings”. “Most mayors and councils across this country support the need for reform, to improve water infrastructure, but strongly oppose this bill as a means to achieve those ends.” “This Government is 100 per cent committed to ensuring our water assets remain in public ownership, and we call on the Opposition to make the same commitment to New Zealanders.” She also took a dig at the Opposition and how it did not support measures to ensure water assets could not be privatised. The Greens supported most of the reforms and the bill through its first and second readings but held off today due to concerns about a lack of protections from privatisation.

Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta, who has been under fire for her role in the short-lived introduction of a controversial entrenchment clause to Three Waters ...

"I think ministers come and go and they make a contribution while they can... "The Government has some specific priorities that require us to be bold and courageous in order to achieve those outcomes," she said. I always felt that I would do the very best that I can to represent the values of the Labour Party."