NZ Government to End Centralised Water Laws, Ratepayers Face Huge Bills

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed that Labour’s Three Waters legislation will be repealed by Feb. 23, restoring local water assets—and the bill for replacing them—back to local councils. The coalition government’s alternative, called Local Water Done Well, will then be implemented by progressing two further bills through Parliament. “Local Water Done Well recognises the importance of local decision-making and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be delivered in the future. We will do this while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting rules for water quality and investment in infrastructure,” Mr. Brown said....