- By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter, funded by New Zealand on Air
Howick ward councillor Maurice Williamson is demanding answers over Watercare’s handling of a $20 million Waikato water deal that was not disclosed to the public.
At Auckland Council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee recent meeting, Watercare presented about its infrastructure programme.
It was recently revealed Watercare agreed to a 20-year deal with iwi Waikato-Tainui to fund $1m annually toward research and environmental projects in the lower Waikato River.
News media reported the agreement was not disclosed to the public.
While Watercare representatives were not presenting at committee to discuss the issue, Williamson demanded answers.
He said a member of Watercare’s staff claimed the $1m was included in a press release.
“When I have to answer back to a constituent, I can’t go back and say a joint press release was issued at the time because this doesn’t mention the $1 million for 20 years,” Williamson said.
Watercare chief executive Dave Chambers said there was nothing secretive about the deal and projects had been extensively discussed at Watercare’s open board meetings.
“There’s a maximum amount of money per year for projects that will directly improve the health of the Waikato River and where our water take comes from, which is extremely significant for Auckland.”
Williamson pushed back on Chambers’ comments and said when something isn’t explicitly disclosed it can appear like there’s something to hide.
“Around this table we’re always on about transparency, full disclosure,” Williamson said.
“Why when that press release was released did it not say there will be extra $1 million a year.”
Chambers said he was unable to provide an answer as to why.
“All I can say is that it was not secret,” he said. “I have said it was well discussed, it was traversed, and in hindsight probably would have been better to announce that, however it certainly was not secret, it wasn’t a murky deal.”
