Local Govt Reforms an attack on accountability, transparency and core
services

Local government reforms that Rodney Hide claims will increase
transparency and accountability and allow councils to focus on core
services will do just the opposite says Right to Water.

"Cabinet has agreed to allow councils to privatise New Zealand's water.
These reforms explicitly enable public private partnerships, the most
common form of water privatisation in the world. They also cut deeper
and allow private companies to actually own water infrastructure," said
Right to Water spokesperson, Maria McMillan.

"Water is the basis of all life and an issue for all New Zealanders.
Instead of democratically elected representatives making decisions about
it, our water could be controlled by people legally bound to act in the
interests of shareholders," said Ms McMillan.

"This is a major loss for democracy, accountability and transparency.
This allows for corporates to steal water away from people and
communities. Companies will be able to hide behind commercial
confidentiality legislation that will stop the public from finding out
what's going on," she said.

Right to Water will be working with other human rights, social justice
and environment groups throughout the country to fight the legislation.

ENDS

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