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The Latest Breaking News from Three Waters

Three Waters assets to move to new council-owned companies

National wants to protect ratepayers from soaring bills by moving the drinking water, wastewater and some stormwater assets off council balance sheets – while avoiding compulsion or co-governance. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

One small council exempted from Three Waters reforms: 'We are unique'

Other small communities should get the same government-funded 'special treatment' as the Chathams, say opposition MPs. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

Cash retention payments to stop Three Waters engineers fleeing uncertainty

The Government created 10 water corporations to give local communities more control, but new changes to the Three Waters reform package ensure they will share the same employment contracts, the same IT systems, and more. Jonathan Milne reports from the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch.

Newsroom.co.nz

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Independent advisor speaks out on officials' unauthorised Three Waters changes

Amelia East says independent advice to all select committees would counter 'arrogant' departmental officials railroading MPs. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

Three Waters: The little town that said 'no' to a $2.4m no-strings windfall

When local authorities are under financial strain by the Government's own admission, Waimate is the only council in the country to stand on its principles and refuse the Three Waters sweetener. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

Kieran McAnulty’s four gaffes

Chris Hipkins has admitted the Government didn't communicate the reasons for its Three Waters reforms well enough – but new minister Kieran McAnulty's arguments also failed the watertightness test, argues Jonathan Milne.

Newsroom.co.nz

Ratepayers pay more for water so councillors can sit at the table

Opinion: Chris Hipkins and Kieran McAnulty must be wondering how they’ve ended up selling a worse version of Three Waters, that is less affordable, all so a few extra councillors can sit at the table when decisions are made, writes political editor Jo Moir.

Newsroom.co.nz

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NZ PM Hipkins throws Ardern's water policy on bonfire

Jacinda Ardern's water infrastructure reforms are the latest policy to be axed by her successor as New Zealand prime minister, Chris Hipkins.

AAP

Why NZ (really) needs water reform – in five charts

Five key charts from the state-of-our-waters report put the case for Three Waters reform. There are still some pretty grim numbers, but there are welcome signs the reforms are already have are starting to make a difference.

Newsroom.co.nz

Māori and Crown paddle double-hulled waka on the Waikato

Central North Island councils hated the idea of a Te Tiriti-founded co-governance model when it was mooted for the Waikato River. They saw a power-grab by Māori – even an asset grab. In practice, it wasn’t that at all.

Newsroom.co.nz

Et voilà! Here's something someone else prepared a little earlier

National and Labour's solutions to the undisputed problem of Three Waters aren't that different, writes Jonathan Milne. The difference is not over how the water infrastructure is managed, but simply who does it.

Newsroom.co.nz

On the 10th day of Christmas, should Three Waters become two?

There's some financial sense in councils retaining control of stormwater assets, which are harder to carve off.

Newsroom.co.nz

Paying for Three Waters: the local pūkeko v the imported partridge

Should NZ rely on its own water infrastructure model? Should we give future generations a local pūkeko or an imported partridge? Credit agencies are watching like hawks.

Newsroom.co.nz

Already under fire politically, Three Waters is also threatened by NZ's critical shortage of skilled engineers

There were nearly 300 water engineer positions advertised on recruitment website Seek last month. The high demand for these specialist engineers bodes ill for the government’s Three Waters reform, which will rely heavily on experts the country currently doesn’t have in the required numbers.

The Conversation

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'That's on us too' - Ardern accepts blame for info vacuum on govt reform

Jacinda Ardern says the Three Waters debate has been muddied by a combination of things, and she accepts the Government has played a role in that.

Newsroom.co.nz

Q&A: Who should pay for desperately needed Three Waters work?

Credit agencies are watching like hawks as the Government introduces its two most important Three Waters bills to Parliament this month – the final structures will determine whether NZ can pay the price to fix its run-down water infrastructure.

Newsroom.co.nz

The problem with entrenching party policy

Could entrenching part of the Three Waters legislation set a dangerous precedent?

Newsroom.co.nz

Proposal to break central-local deadlock on Three Waters and climate

The Three Waters tensions are a symptom of a deeper democracy and legitimacy problem, says visiting author, that can only be addressed by allowing New Zealanders to participate in decision-making.

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Newsroom.co.nz

Three Waters to pass through Parliament in time for Christmas

Any speculation the Government might yet ditch controversial Three Waters legislation has been quashed with the Leader of the House confirming it will pass before Christmas

Newsroom.co.nz

Three Waters: Government agrees to significant changes after Select Committee recommendations

The Government has agreed to make significant changes to its Three Waters reforms following recommendations from a Select Committee.

Newsroom.co.nz

The woman whose impassioned plea won over Three Waters MPs

On Friday, the majority of MPs on a Parliamentary committee recommended the Three Waters reforms proceed. It was the submission from a Hawke's Bay mother that moved them most.

The Conversation

With the Three Waters reforms under fire, let’s not forget that safe and affordable water is a human right

While ostensibly about improving New Zealand’s water infrastructure, the government’s proposed Three Waters reforms have instead become a lightning rod for political division and distrust.

Newsroom.co.nz

Triple-header: Three mayors versus Three Waters

A triumvirate of recently-elected mayors have teamed up to put their names on a proposal for changes to the controversial Three Waters reform programme.

Newsroom.co.nz

Dear mayors: Don't throw the baby out with Three Waters

It may be politically on-trend to bash the Three Waters reforms, but new mayors and councils must work with the Government to find some integrated way to provide New Zealanders clean water

Newsroom.co.nz

Councils sign up for Three Waters funding in final days before voting closes

A Newsroom survey shows local election candidates are overwhelmingly opposed to Three Waters reforms, but councils are renegotiating funding agreements that 'gagged' them.

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