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What advice, if any, has the Minister received on whether the requirement for water service providers to disclose cumulative internal debt balances is sufficient to prevent ratepayer funds from being used to cross-subsidise non-water council activities?

Answered Question 29886 (2026)
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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What advice, if any, has the Minister received on whether the requirement for water service providers to disclose cumulative internal debt balances is sufficient to prevent ratepayer funds from being used to cross-subsidise non-water council activities?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The components of the funding impact statement templates which will assist the Commerce Commission (the Commission) in enforcing the ring-fencing requirements are only one part of the Commission’s monitoring suite. Individual components of that suite are not expected to be sufficient in and off themselves as they are intended to work as a package.