The Water Services Reform Programme (formerly known as Three Waters) was a public infrastructure restructuring programme launched by the Sixth Labour Government to centralise the management of water supply and sanitation in New Zealand.[1][2] It originally proposed shifting control of stormwater, drinking water and wastewater management from the country's 67 local councils to several new publicly-owned regional entities by July 2024.[3][4] Details of the proposed reforms were announced in October 2021. The Three Waters reforms were criticised by several mayors and the opposition National and ACT parties.[5][6][7]
From November 2021, a working group of mayors and Māori representatives reviewed issues of representation, governance and accountability, and reported back in March 2022 with 47 recommendations.[8][9] In April 2022, the government accepted 44 of the recommendations. Key changes to the original proposals included providing non-financial shareholdings for councils in the four new water entities, and increased legislative protection against future privatisation of the water assets. Regional representative groups would be established as part of the governance structure, with equal representation of council and tangata whenua. These representative groups would appoint the members of the boards of the four water entities, based on skill and competence.[10]
In April 2023, the Government announced a major overhaul of the Three Waters programme, renaming it the Water Services Reform Programme.[1][11] The proposed four water services entities were expanded into ten entities. These entities will still retain the split governance structure consisting of both local council and mana whenua representatives.[1][2][11]
In late 2023, the newly-formed National-led coalition Government confirmed that it would repeal the Three Waters legislative framework in favour of a new regime that would favour local council control and ownership of water assets and infrastructure.[12][13] On 14 February 2024, the National-led government passed urgent legislation repealing the previous Labour Government's Three Waters legislation.[14]
- ^ a b c "Listen: Three Waters? Never heard of it". The Spinoff. 13 April 2023. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Three Waters reset: Mega-entities scrapped as new model proposed". 1 News. TVNZ. 13 April 2023. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Mahuta, Nanaia (27 October 2021). "Government to protect vital public water services for future generations". Beehive.govt.nz (Press release). New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Manch, Thomas (27 October 2021). "Government pushes ahead with Three Waters reform, will take water services from councils". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ Wade, Amelia (27 October 2021). "How mayors across New Zealand reacted to Three Waters mandate". Newshub. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "South Island councils disappointed by govt decision to push through Three Waters reform". Radio New Zealand. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ Palmer, Russell (27 October 2021). "National, ACT promise to return water assets to councils". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ Palmer, Russell (10 November 2021). "Three Waters working group named, terms of reference released". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ Palmer, Russell (9 March 2022). "Three waters reforms: Working group urges government financial backing". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ Palmer, Russell (29 April 2022). "Three waters: Councils to be shareholders as government accepts recommendations". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ a b Lynch, Jenna (13 April 2023). "Government's new water reform plan explained: Three Waters branding no more". Newshub. Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Smith, Anneke (27 November 2023). "New government eyes RMA, Three Waters reforms for pre-Christmas scrap heap". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ Brown, Simeon (14 December 2023). "Government to repeal Three Waters legislation". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Parliament repeals Three Waters programme under urgency". Radio New Zealand. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
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