- By Christopher Luxon, National Party leader and MP for Botany
The Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle have only reinforced for New Zealanders that infrastructure is not something we can all ignore.
New Zealand has, for a long time, not invested enough in providing and maintaining its infrastructure.
Short-term financial “savings” are illusory when they impede long-term growth or cause environmental destruction with wastewater failures. A shortage of modern, resilient infrastructure is holding us back.
While some communities operate and maintain efficient, high-quality water services, many others struggle to make new investments against the pressures of council debt caps and other service demands.
But Labour’s Three Waters scheme is completely wrong. The public do not want a centralised and undemocratic asset grab, where four mega-entities take control of the assets that have been built up and paid for by generations of local ratepayers.
Public opinion is also clear that most New Zealanders do not want water used as a way for Labour to impose its co-governance agenda, which it has never explained and for which it has no mandate.
Reform is necessary, even though Labour has given it a bad name.
National has consistently said that we will repeal and replace the Government’s Three Waters policy. Over the weekend, I was pleased to announce National’s Local Water Done Well plan.
The plan has four key elements.
One, in its first 100 days National will repeal Labour’s Three Waters legislation and scrap the four mega-entities, with prescribed co-governance that goes with them.
Two, we will restore council ownership and control, but with stronger central government oversight because we’re not simply going back to the old way of doing things that hasn’t worked.
Three, we will set strict rules for water quality and for investment in infrastructure, so Kiwis don’t have to worry about sewage on their streets, un-swimmable beaches or having to boil their drinking water.
Four, we will ensure water services are financially sustainable to protect future generations inheriting outdated or failing infrastructure.
This plan will ensure that New Zealanders get safe, reliable drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services, improved water quality in rivers and swimmable beaches – all while restoring council ownership and control, keeping the assets that their ratepayers have paid for.
Under National, councils will be required to demonstrate a clear plan to deliver ongoing investment in water infrastructure. Those plans will need to be approved by the Minister of Local Government.
Under National, water stays in local hands and investment in water infrastructure is secured so that New Zealanders can be sure their water is safe and affordable.
The Local Water Done Well plan is National’s latest policy announcement. Others include Backing Police and Tackling Gangs, Combatting Youth Offending, Welfare that Works and dealing with the cost-of-living crisis.
Our policies focus on the things that New Zealanders are concerned about and will deliver results so that all New Zealanders get ahead.
A National Government that I lead can find a clear path, where Labour simply creates complication and confusion.
