Have your say on the Three Waters reforms. The Water Entities Services Bill is currently before Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee and public submissions can be made until July 22, 11.59pm via the Parliamentary website.

Information on the reforms can be found on our dedicated Three Waters page. It includes context for the proposal, links to research and other information. It explains how water is currently managed in the South Wairarapa, how it would look under the reforms, and includes a link to the Council’s own initial feedback in October 2021, when the Department of Internal Affairs asked local bodies for preliminary comments based on a Scottish model and information at the time.

A summary of the Council’s submission to the bill will be posted shortly.

The Three Waters reforms would change the way drinking water, wastewater and stormwater is regulated and delivered across New Zealand. The bill would establish four water entities nationally, which would take over the water assets currently run by the 67 local authorities. The assets would remain in Council ownership via proportional shareholdings.