Submission on the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill

A not for profit incorporated society, Water New Zealand promotes and enables the sustainable management and development of the water environment. With 1500 members Water New Zealand’s membership is large and diverse, including Territorial Local Authorities, Council Controlled Organisations, water and wastes services providers, the major consultancies involved in providing engineering, planning and research services to the industry, Crown and other research institutes involved in the water and wastes environment, academia, members of the legal fraternity and training providers.

Water New Zealand supports in general the reorganisation of Auckland governance and service provision but would like to offer comment on the introduction of a new single water entity. The Part 4 Amendment to the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Act 2009 contained in this Bill proposes the Transition Agency have approval and oversight over Watercare Services becoming the sole provider of water supply and wastewater services.

We recommend the Committee give careful consideration of how a sole provider is appropriately managed and regulated and offer the following commentary on a possible model.