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The Latest Breaking News from Three Waters

The data drought affecting water reforms

As the incoming government draws up the next blueprint for urban water management reform, there needs to be more transparency about the use of data and evidence, writes Julia Talbot-Jones

Newsroom.co.nz

Internal Affairs agrees collective pay deal for water bodies that may never exist

Up to 8000 in-demand water workers are being offered pay rises to stay, as Aussie recruiters take advantage of uncertainty over Three Waters reforms. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

Three Waters boss recruits staff as other executives read the writing on the wall

Two chief executives have quit, faced with the threatened repeal of the Three Waters reforms by the incoming government – but one is pushing determinedly on. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

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Defining issues: Infrastructure's bottomless well

How will each party approach New Zealand’s chronic infrastructure underinvestment?

Newsroom.co.nz

Lack of water treatment highlights urgency of Three Waters reforms – mayor

Queenstown council failed to install the protozoa barrier that would have averted its crypto outbreak because of 'tens of millions' cost, writes Jonathan Milne.

Newsroom.co.nz

Three water CEOs claim salaries despite roles being disestablished

A trio of veteran public servants are being paid up to $2.4m between them, to set in place new Three Waters corporations that have now been canned. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

17,000 homes and businesses overcharged by defective 'smart' water meters

Multinational smart meter firm Landis+GYR is to refund Auckland Watercare customers who it had wrongly been billing extra for the past year. Jonathan Milne reports.

Newsroom.co.nz

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Quick start to Three Waters could save Auckland and Northlanders $1,000

A 2024 start to the Government's new Auckland-Northland water entity is forecast to save households hundreds of dollars a year, on planned increases to water charges. Jonathan Milne investigates.

Newsroom.co.nz

Raw Politics: Is National ready to govern?

In episode 3 of Raw Politics, we look at whether National, six months out from the general election, is in a fit state to govern, and debate whether the Three Waters changes are real or just imaginary

Newsroom.co.nz

Racist and sexist attacks won't drive Mahuta out of politics

Nanaia Mahuta says she became a “lightning rod" for detractors of Three Waters. She sat down with political editor Jo Moir to explain why she will always speak out against racist and sexist attacks she is subject to.

Newsroom.co.nz

Less word soup, more vision needed from Luxon

Christopher Luxon needs to explain his vision for New Zealand and underpin it with some policies that are clearly articulated and costed, writes political editor Jo Moir

Newsroom.co.nz

Govt must build consensus on cyclone recovery and climate policies

The Government needs to leave managing the recovery to others, while it gets on with the bigger picture of addressing climate change overall, says Peter Dunne

Newsroom.co.nz

Water charges could be hiked under National's policy

Christopher Luxon denies ratepayers will pay more under National’s alternative Three Waters proposal while at the same time accepting some councils might charge more for water.

Newsroom.co.nz

Hipkins leaves National playing catch-up

National has missed so many opportunities to set the year's political agenda. The only policy proposals from the centre-right are from its coalition partner-in-waiting, ACT, says Peter Dunne

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PM axes Ardern's projects, takes wind out of Nats' sails

Hate speech, biofuels, the media merger and social insurance have been dumped in the worthy, but not important bin, after Chris Hipkins takes the axe to his predecessor's policies.

Newsroom.co.nz

Christopher Luxon absent as Chris Hipkins steps into the floodlights

Unless a policy reset deals decisively with the cost of living, Three Waters, the public health system, and law and order, Chris Hipkins’ Cabinet reshuffle will quickly be seen as merely a rearrangement of the deckchairs, writes Peter Dunne

Newsroom.co.nz

What a waste: getting our poop sludge out of landfill

Australia puts 80% of its nutrient-rich sewage ‘biosolids’ back onto farm land as fertiliser. In NZ it’s just 20%. Instead half of our sludge goes to landfill. That’s changing – and Three Waters could be a catalyst.

The Guardian - AU

New Zealand’s Chris Hipkins vows to focus on inflation ‘pandemic’ and ‘fairer’ tax system

Incoming prime minister echoes Jacinda Ardern’s promise to cut back Labour’s agenda to focus on cost of living issues

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Newsroom.co.nz

The biggest challenges facing PM Hipkins

Here's what might keep Chris Hipkins up at night as the country's new leader gets to grips with replacing Jacinda Ardern as prime minister.

Newsroom.co.nz

Paying for Three Waters: ‘There’s no magic pool of money’

We wrap up the 12 days of Christmas with our final question about financing Three Waters. Are taxpayers, ratepayers or consumers liable? It all comes back to you ...

Newsroom.co.nz

Too big to fail – calls for Govt to guarantee Three Waters debts

The Govt is bailing out a skifield operator; of course it's not going to allow a major utility providing the public with safe drinking water and wastewater services to go under.

Newsroom.co.nz

The silly Ministry of Water Works – and its serious side

The Opportunities Party argues water infrastructure should be managed by a grand central Ministry of Water Works, and paid for through 30-year government bonds. What are the pros and cons?

Newsroom.co.nz

Govt sticks resolutely to ‘bottom line’ of balance sheet separation – but why?

We continue our 12 questions about Three Waters. The Government has said balance sheet separation is a bottom line – but is it really that important?

Newsroom.co.nz

Achieving the gold standard of balance sheet separation

How could big councils like Auckland and Christchurch retain ownership of their waters assets, yet separate them from their balance sheets – under any reform model?

Newsroom.co.nz

On the 4th day of Christmas, what's so special about four big water corporations?

We continue our 12 questions about Three Waters. Some mayors want councils to consolidate their water networks only as they see fit, contracting a dozen or more regional water companies to deliver services – but does the financing work?

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