New Zealand National Party

Three Waters tweaks won’t fix broken agenda

April 29, 2022 Share

Simon Watts

Labour needs to accept that their Three Waters agenda is well past saving and the tweaks they’ve made today do nothing to address the key concerns communities have about the reforms, National’s Local Government Spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Govt attempting to gag councils on Three Waters

April 15, 2022 Share

Simon Watts

A thinly-veiled gag order has been placed on councils in what appears to be an attempt to control what they say to media about Three Waters, National’s Local Government Spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Bribes won’t save Labour’s Three Waters

April 04, 2022 Share

Simon Watts

The first tranche of $2 billion worth of funding for councils is nothing more than a distraction from the failure of Labour’s Three Waters reforms and a shameless bribery attempt, National’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Govt to steamroll ahead with Three Waters

March 21, 2022 Share

Simon Watts

A move to progress the Three Waters asset grab before legislation has even reached Parliament shows that the Government’s arrogance knows no bounds, National’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Three Waters centralisation is past saving

March 13, 2022 Share

Simon Watts

Nanaia Mahuta’s admissions today show the Minister’s relationships with local councils are broken and that the Three Waters asset grab plans are terminal, National’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Three Waters plans quietly delayed – again

February 19, 2022 Share

Simon Watts

The latest delay in a Three Waters bill being introduced to Parliament all but confirms the Government is quietly putting their unpopular plans out to pasture, National’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Three Waters mandate predetermined from the start

December 11, 2021 Share

Simon Watts

Labour’s decision to force the Three Waters asset grab on every council in the country was made back in July, showing that their subsequent “engagement” with councils was a total sham, National’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Delay spells trouble for Three Waters plans

December 10, 2021 Share

Simon Watts

The Government’s broken promise to introduce their Three Waters asset grab legislation by the end of the year is yet another sign their plans are in trouble, National’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says.

Council water collaboration should be commended

November 18, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

A partnership between two councils to address their water infrastructure challenges should be welcomed, and shows that voluntary alternatives to the Government’s forced asset grab are indeed practical and realistic, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

National halts Labour’s local government power grab

October 28, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

National has forced the Government to back down on an electoral power grab buried in a Covid bill.

Three Waters asset grab to be forced on councils

October 27, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

National understands the Government will force the Three Waters asset grab on councils and centralise local, ratepayer-owned water services, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Ownership still murky under Three Waters plans

October 26, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

The Government still can’t convincingly explain how councils and communities would retain control of their water assets under the Three Waters plans, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Labour must abandon local election power grab

October 19, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

It’s promising that Chris Hipkins has listened to National’s concerns over an electoral power grab buried in a Covid-19 bill, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Govt concedes Three Waters engagement is a farce

October 01, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s promises to listen to councils were clearly just lip service after she all but confirmed that her Government will proceed with forcing the Three Waters Reforms on every council in New Zealand, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Govt wants power to delay local elections through 2023

September 29, 2021 Share

Chris Bishop

The Government must urgently explain why it wants to give itself the power to delay next year’s local body elections limitless times through to 2023, National’s Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop and Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon say.

Mahuta rips up Three Waters ‘partnership’ with councils

September 28, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

Nanaia Mahuta’s performance in Parliament today has shown any spirit of partnership she may have feigned with councils is well and truly gone and the Three Waters Reforms will be rammed through at any cost, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Kiwis overwhelmingly oppose Three Waters plan

September 27, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

In just over two days almost 25,000 New Zealanders signed National’s petition to stop the Three Waters asset grab, reflecting the growing public opposition to Labour’s plans, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Kiwis should demand the debate on Three Waters

September 25, 2021 Share

Judith Collins

New Zealanders should demand the debate on Labour’s Three Waters plans which amount to stealing local water assets and stripping control from communities, Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins and National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon say.

Labour ignores 15,000 rural New Zealanders

September 23, 2021 Share

Barbara Kuriger

By refusing to back a practical change that would lessen the regulatory load on farmers, Labour have shown they remain completely out of touch with rural New Zealand, National’s Agriculture spokesperson Barbara Kuriger and Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon say.

Government must park Three Waters plans

September 12, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

Labour must listen to the multitude of mayors pleading for the Three Waters plans to be dumped, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Rural NZ rejecting more regulation from Labour

September 08, 2021 Share

Barbara Kuriger

More than 13,000 New Zealanders have told the Government to stop raining regulations on our rural communities, National’s Agriculture spokesperson Barbara Kuriger and Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon say.

Labour must stop flooding rural NZ with pointless and onerous regulation

August 21, 2021 Share

Barbara Kuriger

Labour’s latest regulatory hurdle for rural water schemes shows it is deeply out of touch with provincial New Zealand, National’s Rural Communities spokesperson Barbara Kuriger and Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon say.

Another nail in the Three Waters coffin

August 16, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

The latest council rejection of the Three Waters Reforms underscores their persistent problems and throws the Government’s plans into serious doubt, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Compulsory Three Waters model not off the table

July 02, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

Councils should be worried by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta refusing to guarantee they won’t be forced into the new water entities, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Three Waters reforms remain unconvincing

June 30, 2021 Share

Simon Bridges

While there’s a clear case for change in our Three Waters sector the Government’s plan isn’t compelling, and the model of four regional entities comes with several problems, National’s Water spokesperson Simon Bridges says.

Serious risks in three waters reform

June 02, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

While the problems and case for change when it comes to our three waters is clear, the Government’s proposed solution is already fraught with serious risks, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

Review an opportunity to strengthen local govt

April 23, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

A review of local government is timely and necessary but it must not become the latest plank in the Labour Government’s centralisation agenda, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says.

National will overturn undemocratic Māori wards bill

February 25, 2021 Share

Judith Collins

The next National Government will repeal the Māori wards legislation passed by Parliament tonight under urgency, Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins says.

Unfair process on Māori Wards Bill

February 17, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

The Government’s parliamentary process on its Bill to allow Councils to have separate Māori Wards has been a sham, National’s Local Government spokesperson and Electoral Reform spokesperson Christopher Luxon and Dr Nick Smith say.

Labour running roughshod over democracy

February 10, 2021 Share

Christopher Luxon

Despite being given ample opportunity, the Local Government Minister has been unable to provide a good reason why Labour is bypassing public debate and pushing its Māori wards law change through under urgency.

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Local Government

Three Waters tweaks won’t fix broken agenda

Govt attempting to gag councils on Three Waters

Bribes won’t save Labour’s Three Waters

Govt to steamroll ahead with Three Waters

Three Waters centralisation is past saving

Three Waters plans quietly delayed – again

Three Waters mandate predetermined from the start

Delay spells trouble for Three Waters plans

Council water collaboration should be commended

National halts Labour’s local government power grab

Three Waters asset grab to be forced on councils

Ownership still murky under Three Waters plans

Labour must abandon local election power grab

Govt concedes Three Waters engagement is a farce

Govt wants power to delay local elections through 2023

Mahuta rips up Three Waters ‘partnership’ with councils

Kiwis overwhelmingly oppose Three Waters plan

Kiwis should demand the debate on Three Waters

Labour ignores 15,000 rural New Zealanders

Government must park Three Waters plans

Rural NZ rejecting more regulation from Labour

Labour must stop flooding rural NZ with pointless and onerous regulation

Another nail in the Three Waters coffin

Compulsory Three Waters model not off the table

Three Waters reforms remain unconvincing

Serious risks in three waters reform

Review an opportunity to strengthen local govt

National will overturn undemocratic Māori wards bill

Unfair process on Māori Wards Bill

Labour running roughshod over democracy