Three Waters gone by end of February
Local government minister Simeon Brown confirmed that the previous government’s water reform law will be repealed by end of the month, with a long term solution in place by mid-2025
Mōrena, and welcome to The Bulletin for Tuesday, February 13, written by Anna Rawhiti-Connell.
In today’s edition: Government extremely concerned about Israel’s action in Rafah; heat straining train services and relationships; Brownlee disputes report about lobbyist access; but first, out with the old water reform and in with a new transition plan, working group and legislation
Three Waters/Affordable Water gone by end of February
Local government minister Simeon Brown confirmed yesterday that it will pass a bill to repeal the previous government’s Three Waters legislation (renamed Affordable Water last year) by February 23 (it’s on the list in the coalition’s 100-day plan). It will then move to implement its plan, dubbed Local Water Done Well, through two pieces of legislation. The first will be passed by the middle of this year and will set out provisions relating to council service delivery plans and transitional economic regulation. Brown says it will also “provide streamlined requirements for establishing council-controlled organisations under the Local Government Act 2002, enabling councils to start shifting the delivery of water services into more financially sustainable configurations should they wish to do so.” In short, it will allow councils to separate out their water services into council-controlled organisations if they want to. A second bill, which will stand as the long term replacement for previous reforms, will be introduced in December 2024 and passed by the middle of 2025. This will provide regulatory backstop powers to be used when required.
New advisory group to assist in implementation
A new technical advisory group has been set up to advise the government on the implementation of the new legislation. It will be chaired by Andreas Heuser, managing director at Castalia, the consulting firm that ran a rule over the National party’s tax plan. Heuser led the design of an alternative plan for Communities 4 Local Democracy (C4LD), a coalition of 30 councils that were opposed to the previous government’s water reforms. Heuser outlined the crux of the alternative in an opinion piece for the Herald (paywalled) in December last year.
Labour warns ratepayers will pay the price
Labour issued a statement shortly after the announcement. The party’s local government spokesperson, Kieran McAnulty, said, “The government’s confirmation today it will repeal the affordable water reforms will see higher rates for every ratepayer – up to 90% in some individual councils – in 30 years.” The statement continues: “They've also ignored departmental advice that balance sheet separation is essential, and despite promising during the campaign that they'd be able to deliver it, National have today proven what we've been saying all along: that they don't get it and they have no plan.” Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe and Auckland mayor Wayne Brown welcomed the government’s announcement.
Wellington’s mayors agree that water meters an inevitability
Brown said yesterday that it was up to councils whether they used water meters, but he added that meters were better for detecting leaks and for measuring water usage. As reported by The Post yesterday, Wellington mayors now all agree that water meters will be an inevitability for the region, which has been besieged by leaks and water restrictions. Wellington Water is warning Level 3 water restrictions may be implemented in the next two weeks. The mayors’ agreement comes after Greater Wellington Regional Council chairperson Daran Ponter issued mayors in Wellington, Hutt City, Upper Hutt, and Porirua with an ultimatum: his council would consider a higher charge for water supply beyond allocated limits if it did not see plans for water meters by January 31.
The Spinoff and Boring Oat Milk with the support from Coffee Supreme proudly presents Boring Breakfast — Wellington.
As a compact city with an outsized culinary reputation, Wellington has always taken hospitality very seriously. But as the city moves forward from the disruption of the early 2020s, how do those within the sector feel about its current state? Join us as Boring Breakfast visits Te Whanganui-a-Tara for the very first time, with host Sophie Gilmour (Delicious Business) welcoming guests Douglas Johns (Coffee Supreme), Juno Miers and Thomas Adam (Margot) to discuss what they do, why they do it and their hopes for the city's hospo future. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to: commercial@thespinoff.co.nz by February 26.
Government extremely concerned about Israel’s action in Rafah
Speaking at the post-cabinet press conference yesterday, prime minister Christopher Luxon says the government is extremely concerned about Israel’s actions in Rafah and has conveyed its position that its operation there should not proceed to Israel. “Palestinian civilians cannot pay the price of Israel trying to defeat Hamas. There are 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah at the moment. We are extremely concerned about that,” Luxon said. Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters met with Israel’s ambassador to New Zealand, Ran Yaakoby, yesterday. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military will go ahead with its planned ground offensive in Rafah, insisting an evacuation plan is being prepared. The BBC reports that Israeli airstrikes in the area have killed dozens more people. As leaders around the world voice concern about Israel’s plans in Rafah, its response to the October 7 Hamas attack and the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have subsequently been killed, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has told reporters in Brussels that “if you believe that too many people are being killed, maybe you should provide less arms in order to prevent so many people being killed”.
Heat straining train services and relationships as Auckland commuters disrupted
Up to 35 train services were cancelled on three lines in Auckland yesterday, with speed restrictions put in place due to heat. KiwiRail, which manages the tracks, said the city has had high temperatures and heat restrictions in different areas for most of the last three weeks. Last week, 1News reported that there have been only two weekdays without unplanned cancellations and delays since trains in Auckland returned to service on January 22. The heat caused the major power outage that brought Wellington’s train network to a standstill in January. Auckland Transport issued a statement yesterday saying KiwiRail was “wrecking the reputation and reliability of Auckland’s rail network”. “Aucklanders deserve better than a passenger rail network that can’t run at capacity on a mildly warm summer day,” Auckland Transport’s director of public transport Stacey van der Putten said. Heat and train tracks aren’t a match made in heaven with issues across the UK during recent heat waves. UK trains are “pre-stressed” to summer temperatures of 27C. According to MetService, the peak temperature in Auckland central yesterday was 24C.
The War for Wellington is being funded with support from The Spinoff Members.
If you think it’s important that Wellington becomes a modern, fit-for-purpose city that can live up to its potential, we would love you to become a member, or donate, and help us out.
Sign up to receive our weekly War for Wellington newsletter, written by the Spinoff's Wellington editor, Joel MacManus
Click and Collect
Finance minister Nicola Willis stands by her view that there should be a mandatory code of conduct for lobbyists in parliament, as speaker Gerry Brownlee disputes yesterday’s RNZ report on lobbyist access.
Willis also announces May 30 as Budget day.
SkyCity is facing five separate civil proceedings brought by the Department of Internal Affairs under anti-money laundering and terrorism-financing law.
Minister for mental health floats idea of a fourth option when calling 111, following a proposal that would see police withdraw from some family harm and mental health call-outs.
Related: government warned a year ago that the 111 emergency call system is so old, slow and fragmented that it is causing deaths and injuries.
Rats of Dunedin usurped by a mouse as footage emerges of one scuttling over a deli salad at a Countdown in Christchurch.
Feeling clever? Click here to play 1Q, Aotearoa’s newest, shortest daily quiz.
Muriwai resident Emma Farry reflects on what she learned living in a disaster zone during Cyclone Gabrielle. On the anniversary of the poll tax apology, Eda Tang explores how the history of Chinese New Zealand can help shape its future. Tommy de Silva reviews Run it Back, a behind-the-scenes look at Home Brew's rise, hiatus and rebirth. Jonah Franke-Bowell talks to the Hamilton city councillor moonlighting as a luxury travel vlogger. Stewart Sowman-Lund reports on the Commerce Commission’s concern over council car park surcharges.
Sporting snippets
Erika Fairweather becomes the first New Zealander to win a long course swimming world championship title.
Provincial unions and New Zealand Rugby must repay almost $3m of Covid wage subsidy payments (paywalled).
The Super Bowl had something for everyone: Usher (shirtless), Usher (on roller skates), Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil John, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber (attending, not performing), a lifesize Taylor Swift cake (not attending, presumably still being eaten), Beyoncé (attending and announcing news), memes and tweets, comments from Donald Trump claiming Swift has not given him credit for her global success, very expensive ads, a reflection on what Hunter S. Thompson would have thought of the Super Bowl in Las Vegas or “these exemplars of American excess” and, reportedly, a game of football.
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
If you liked what you read today, share The Bulletin with friends, family and colleagues.
