43576 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

43576 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: What actions will follow if the Department of Internal Affairs determines that a council’s Water Service Delivery Plan is not financially sustainable or otherwise non-compliant with the Local Water Done Well framework?

Hon Simon Watts: All water services delivery plans (plans) are assessed for compliance with the legislative requirements of the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024. If a plan is not accepted, the Department of Internal Affairs will provide an opportunity for the council(s) to respond to the decision and will then outline next steps. These next steps may, if required, include a recommendation to the Minister of Local Government about intervention options, including those set out in Sub Part 2 of the Act. The Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 gives the Minister further intervention powers.