Last week, the Finance and Expenditure Committee (Committee) reported back on the Local Government (Water Services) Bill (Bill) and recommended by majority that it be passed with numerous amendments (the Labour Party, Green Party of Aotearoa and Te Pāti Māori oppose the Bill).
The Bill marks the final and most substantive piece of legislation in the Government's three-part Local Water Done Well legislative programme (with the first repealing the previous Government's "Three Waters" legislation and the second providing for interim water services arrangements). This Bill would establish an enduring water services delivery framework, providing for (among other things):
- arrangements for the new water services delivery system;
- a new economic regulation and consumer protection regime for water services; and
- changes to the regulatory framework for water quality and to the water services regulator.
Select Committee's proposed amendments
In its report, the Committee proposed more than 360 amendments. Most recommended amendments are merely technical in nature, with the substantive scheme of the Bill remaining the same.
Broadly, the amendments cover the following themes:
- enabling growth;
- accountability and engagement;
- facilitating transfers to new delivery arrangements;
- improving regulatory efficiency;
- stormwater;
- streamlining processes for regulatory plans and bylaws;
- financial principles and economic regulation;
- Watercare-specific provisions;
- Māori interests;
- requirement to provide information and Officers of Parliament;
- Crown lending to the Local Government Funding Agency; and
- offences related to specified serious risk.
The Committee's report also notes the Government's intention to divide the Bill into two parts at the Committee of the Whole House stage. The substantive content of the Bill pertaining to the provision of water services would continue as the Local Government (Water Services) Bill, while amendment provisions would become the Local Government (Water Services Repeals and Amendments) Bill.
Next steps
The Bill will be set down for its Second Reading in Parliament shortly, after which it will be referred to the Committee of the Whole House stage. The Bill is expected to pass into law in the coming months.
See our previous Insight here for more information on the Bill.
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