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Why did the date error in the overflows standard — which causes aspects of a standard commencing in 2028 to apply retrospectively from 2025 — not result in an urgent correction being gazetted before the March 2026 amendment process, and what advice, if any, did the Minister receive on the legal implications of that retrospective application in the interim?

Answered Question 29900 (2026)
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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • Why did the date error in the overflows standard — which causes aspects of a standard commencing in 2028 to apply retrospectively from 2025 — not result in an urgent correction being gazetted before the March 2026 amendment process, and what advice, if any, did the Minister receive on the legal implications of that retrospective application in the interim?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

An amendment process is underway to ensure that all technical issues identified in the wastewater standards are addressed. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai is actively engaged with impacted parties (councils and consent authorities).