Conclusion

There are still several issues that need to be resolved, including:

• the final boundaries
• protections from privatisation
• consultation with mana whenua and communities
• how will community voice be heard and what influence will local authorities have (and what can the community realistically expect the council to influence particularly if it is not on the regional Representation Group)
• representation from and on behalf of mana whenua
• integration with other local government reform processes
• integration with spatial and local planning processes and growth
• prioritisation of investment
• workforce and capability – we don’t have enough of the right people now to deliver three waters and we need to retain our people through the transition
• what will a Government Bill cover and whether the reform will be mandatory
• conditions associated with the Government’s package of funding for local government
• transition arrangements, including our own workforce challenges (without transition challenges on top) and due diligence for asset transfers etc.

Finally

While there is uncertainty about the future steps in the Government’s reform proposal, and current legislative impediments to it, the current eight-week period gives Council the opportunity to understand the information it has received (and will continue to receive) from the RFI and modelling processes.

It also provides an opportunity for Council to understand the implications of the proposal, including the financial, workforce and sustainability impacts for Council and the wider economic, social and cultural implications. It has also and is also providing Council an opportunity to engage in discussions with other councils in Entity D, share information and ask questions and propose solutions to issues it sees to Government and LGNZ.

All this information will be useful to inform future decision making by both Council and Government and consultation and engagement with mana whenua and communities.