45202 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

45202 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: Further to his reply to Question 43567 (2025), what tools does Local Water Done Well provide to support affordable delivery of water services and how, if at all, will each address the issue of affordability for ratepayers?

Hon Simon Watts: Local Water Done Well provides for a suite of tools for councils to support financially sustainable and affordable delivery of water services. Water services will be subject to economic regulation by the Commerce Commission. The economic regulation regime will initially apply to local government drinking water supply and wastewater services. This oversight by the Commerce Commission will ensure that ratepayers are getting the quality infrastructure they deserve, at a price that is fair and reasonable. Councils will also be subject to information disclosure under economic regulation.