43575 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

43575 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: Has the Department of Internal Affairs considered appointing Crown facilitators or Crown water services specialists to assist Kawerau, Mackenzie, Waitaki, Whakatāne, Gisborne, or Stratford District Councils with their water planning, and if so, which councils are being considered for such intervention?

Hon Simon Watts: The Minister of Local Government appoints Crown facilitators or Crown water services specialists, not the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department). I will take advice from the Department if the review and assessment process of water services delivery plans (plans) finds any councils have not produced a financially sustainable or otherwise viable plan. If a plan is not able to be accepted, the Department will provide an opportunity for the council(s) to respond to the decision and will then outline next steps. These next steps may include intervention options. To date no recommendations have been made for a Crown facilitator for any of the named councils.