Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Local Government

30 May 2018

Minister signals need for step change in Three Waters

The Minister of Local Government, the Hon Nanaia Mahuta today said there was a need to move to a new regulatory system in the area of three waters in a speech to the Water Summit in Wellington.

“Our houses are not habitable without high quality reliable drinking water and wastewater services. Our towns are not liveable without stormwater services. Our health and environment depend upon these services – the “three waters” system.

“The inquiry into Havelock North has made significant recommendations –both to overhaul drinking water regulation and also how to think differently about delivering water services. What is clear that we need a step change to reduce the risk of another Havelock North tragedy.

“The Three Waters Review, led by the Department of Internal Affairs, has found that all three waters services to New Zealanders are inconsistent and patchy. This includes wastewater and stormwater, which can have a real impact on the environment.

“The benefits of a better three waters system is that it will bring together core aspects of the economy, health and the environment. We want to ensure that we have clean drinking water, an efficient delivery system and environmentally sensitive options for water treatment.

“ A question before us now is how we will respond to the funding challenges to do this – particularly as we move out to the regions, where some councils are struggling to keep pace with the pressures before them. Cost pressures are not the sole motivation to do things differently, to ensure we have thriving regional economic growth. It is also important to ensure better utilisation of our water resource and assure ourselves that we have future proofed core infrastructure for liveable cities and housing development. We need all stakeholders engaged in the scale of change required.”

The Minister said that it was critical that all stakeholders were engaged in the three waters discussion to meet these important challenges.

“I want New Zealanders to have a conversation about the benefits of an aggregated water service across the motu,” says Nanaia Mahuta.

“I note that Local Government New Zealand is also looking at the three waters in their Water 2050 project and this is a valuable input into the conversation and the shape of the change ahead.

“I have made it clear today there are no pre-determined solutions and we want an open conversation about what we do next. However a bottom line for this Government is that there will be continued public ownership of existing three waters infrastructure.”

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