Public meeting in Hurunui over Government's proposed Three Waters reform

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

Hurunui mayor Marie Black says Sunday’s gathering at the Glenmark Rugby Grounds will provide a forum for locals to discuss their concerns.

“Hurunui District Councillors have unanimously adopted a statement opposing the Government’s Three Waters Reform. We know however, that the council’s voice alone isn’t enough. Ratepayers have real issues with the proposed reforms and Sunday’s meeting is all about giving them a voice," she said in a statement.

Black said there was a real sense that water assets belonged to the community.

“Pipes were literally laid by hand by locals in the 1950s and 1960s, when land owners were given the choice to chip in and pay for new infrastructure or pay in manual labour. It means that for many farmers today, it was their fathers and grandfathers who actually built their water systems.”

“There’s a real lack of understanding in Wellington about how important the ownership of water assets is to our community.”

Black said the proposed reforms also ignored the importance of local knowledge.

“Most farmers know exactly who their utilities person is. If they have a problem, they call them and it is fixed. Having these local relationships is priceless.”

Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the reforms opened the door to the future privatisation of water assets.

He believed people had lost total faith in the democratic process.

“Government initially promised councils we would have the chance to opt out of the proposed reforms but have since gone back on that promise. It’s clear that it now comes down to people power and giving our local community the opportunity to be heard.”

Event details:
Glenmark Rugby Grounds
2.30pm to 4pm (Speeches will begin at 2.30pm)
Sunday, November 14

The event will be available to watch virtually via Facebook Live on the Hurunui District Council FB page.