Post by Kiwi Frontline on Aug 1, 2021 12:54:12 GMT 12
THE THREE WATERS JOURNEY – PART 2 – Bruce Smith
Here is Part 2 of the Westland District Council Mayor’s Three Waters journey
– as of 21 July 2021.
On the 3rd of March I published my journey to date with the three Waters reforms being proposed by Government. You can see this summary on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_hkRwudUY
Now with the 2021 local government conference behind us where we listened to the Prime Minister and Minister Mahuta and had discussions with a number of Mayors and CEs it’s time for a further update. Some call it a bribe I prefer incentive.
At the LGNZ conference a $2.5 billion incentive was announced by the Prime Minister to encourage councils to opt into the government three water proposals.
Westland District Council was to receive $11 million which we were advised could be used on any project and not confined to three waters. Its stated purpose was to ensure Councils were no worse off after their three waters functions and assets were removed by government.
Nothing was mentioned about strings attached by the Prime Minister in her speech.
On the second day of the conference, we were informed the money would become available in July of 2024.
It could be spent on projects consulted and approved by iwi and was not confined to three waters investment.
It was subject to councils joining the government masterplan for three waters reform.
This included the transfer of Councils three water assets to one of four companies to be established to control the allocation of water, the assets transferred by Councils, and the funding of the current and future three water supplies.
It was clarified that Maori would be granted membership and voting rights of 50% of the governance groups that controlled the three water activities and future strategic direction of each of the four entities.
The voting would be 50% Maori and 50% councils who had transferred 100% of the assets to the operating companies.
This government proposal gives Maori who makeup at June 2020 10.4% of the West Coast population and 16.7% of the New Zealand population according to statistics NZ.
Maori in commercial terms gets the right of Veto in perpetuity from government.......
Continue reading Bruce’s NZCPR guest commentary here > www.nzcpr.com/the-three-waters-journey-part-2/
Here is Part 2 of the Westland District Council Mayor’s Three Waters journey
– as of 21 July 2021.
On the 3rd of March I published my journey to date with the three Waters reforms being proposed by Government. You can see this summary on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_hkRwudUY
Now with the 2021 local government conference behind us where we listened to the Prime Minister and Minister Mahuta and had discussions with a number of Mayors and CEs it’s time for a further update. Some call it a bribe I prefer incentive.
At the LGNZ conference a $2.5 billion incentive was announced by the Prime Minister to encourage councils to opt into the government three water proposals.
Westland District Council was to receive $11 million which we were advised could be used on any project and not confined to three waters. Its stated purpose was to ensure Councils were no worse off after their three waters functions and assets were removed by government.
Nothing was mentioned about strings attached by the Prime Minister in her speech.
On the second day of the conference, we were informed the money would become available in July of 2024.
It could be spent on projects consulted and approved by iwi and was not confined to three waters investment.
It was subject to councils joining the government masterplan for three waters reform.
This included the transfer of Councils three water assets to one of four companies to be established to control the allocation of water, the assets transferred by Councils, and the funding of the current and future three water supplies.
It was clarified that Maori would be granted membership and voting rights of 50% of the governance groups that controlled the three water activities and future strategic direction of each of the four entities.
The voting would be 50% Maori and 50% councils who had transferred 100% of the assets to the operating companies.
This government proposal gives Maori who makeup at June 2020 10.4% of the West Coast population and 16.7% of the New Zealand population according to statistics NZ.
Maori in commercial terms gets the right of Veto in perpetuity from government.......
Continue reading Bruce’s NZCPR guest commentary here > www.nzcpr.com/the-three-waters-journey-part-2/