5179 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for the Environment

5179 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for the Environment: Is the Freshwater Working Group still operational?

Hon Penny Simmonds: The Freshwater Working Group was not established. The Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 (NBA) required the Minister for the Environment to establish a Freshwater Working Group. The purpose of the Working Group was to produce a report that considers and makes recommendations: - on matters relating to freshwater allocation; and - on a process for engagement between the Crown and iwi and hapū, at the regional or local level, on freshwater allocation. The previous Minister for the Environment began establishing the group but did not complete this prior to the 2023 general election. With the repeal of the NBA in late 2023, the Minister is no longer required to establish the group. This is also my response to written parliamentary question 5178 (2024).