Search written questions to Ministers and the replies they have received.
Showing 551 to 600 of 669 written question sets.
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Is the Minister concerned that Taranaki Regional Council cannot afford to eradicate the invasive gold clam from Lake Rotomanu?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I am aware many councils have significant cost pressures.
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the projected water services charges as a percentage of median household income at the start and end of the plan period under accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: Information and metrics from accepted council Water Services Delivery Plans (plans) and the associated Assessment Reports completed by officials are publicly available to view on the Department of Internal Affairs’ website…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the maximum projected annual water services charge increases under accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council and year?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the current financial and operational ring-fencing arrangements for water services under accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many water services consents are due to expire within the next ten years under accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, and what are those consents, broken down by council and consent type?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the current compliance statuses of drinking water schemes identified in accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council and scheme?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the historical average delivery rates of planned water services capital expenditure over the past five years, compared with the projected delivery rates in accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the projected borrowing headroom or shortfall amounts for water services under accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council and year?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many councils are projected to exceed a 500 percent water services net debt-to-operating revenue ratio at any point in their accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, if any, and what are those peak ratios, broken down by council?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the peak projected water services net debt-to-operating revenue ratios over the life of accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many councils are planning to recover less than 100 percent of depreciation for one or more water services, and what are those recovery rates, broken down by council and service?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I refer the Member to reply number 5995 (2026)
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the projected asset sustainability ratios for water services over the ten-year period of accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council and service?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are the percentages of depreciation planned to be recovered for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater under accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council and service?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What is the estimated dollar value of depreciation not planned to be recovered over the life of accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, broken down by council and service?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What is the estimated dollar value of stormwater depreciation not being recovered nationally under the accepted Water Services Delivery Plans broken down by council and estimated annual shortfall?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What is the average stormwater depreciation recovery rate across all accepted Water Services Delivery Plans?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many councils are planning to recover less than 100% of stormwater depreciation, and will he provide a breakdown by council and estimated percentage recovery?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I refer the Member to reply number 5995 (2026)
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many councils are planning renewals expenditure below depreciation levels in any year of their accepted Water Services Delivery Plans, and what are those projected shortfalls, broken down by council and service?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What estimated recovery rate has the Department of Internal Affairs inferred or calculated for each council, for any councils whose Water Services Delivery Plans do not explicitly state a stormwater depreciation recovery percentage, if…
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Corrected reply: I refer the member to the response in written question 5995 (2026). I am advised that compiling and collating the information at the level of specificity requested in the members question beyond what is already publicly…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What methodology did officials use to assess stormwater depreciation recovery across councils’ Water Services Delivery Plans, if any, broken down by council and methodology?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I am advised by the Department of Internal Affairs that officials were required to assess the Water Services Delivery Plans as provided by councils to ensure that they were appropriate and consistent with other audited statutory council…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What is the percentage of stormwater depreciation that each council plans to recover over the life of its plan, broken down by council and estimated percentage, for every council that has submitted a Water Services Delivery Plan, listed by…
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I refer the Member to reply number 5995 (2026)
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Following Response 3906 (2026), in addition to public monitoring and reporting requirements for overflows and bypasses taking effect from December 2028, will the Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai) monitor and report on incidences of…
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Monitoring and reporting on incidences of non-compliance from wastewater treatment plants is the responsibility of the consenting authority (regional councils and unitary authorities) under the Resource Management Act. Treatment plants…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 16 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
As the Minister of Local Government, I received the following aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes and reports from the Department of Internal Affairs during the week beginning 16 February 2026: • Local Government Commission -…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 16 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
None
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Did Taumata Arowai receive any advice from the Department of Conservation regarding the Wastewater Environmental Performance Standards given DOC is responsible for the Whakapapa wastewater treatment plant in Tongariro National Park?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Yes, the Department of Conservation provided feedback to the Authority during the development of the standards.
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Following Reply 3931 (2026), how many of the breaches of the Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand) Regulations between 1 Jan 2026 and 10 February 2026 were linked to severe weather events?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The number of Maximum Acceptable Value (MAV) exceedance notifications relating to severe weather events are included below: • Three notifications of MAV exceedances were submitted for publicly registered supplies during this period • Seven…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Following Reply 3927 (2026), how many of the boil water notices between 1 Jan 2026 and 10 February 2026 were linked to severe weather events?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Five boil water notices were issued in relation to severe weather events, one of which was due to a combination of severe weather event and a maintenance issue.
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Following Reply 3929 (2026), how many of the breaches of the MAV for e. coli between 1 Jan 2026 and 10 February 2026 were linked to severe weather events?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The number of Maximum Acceptable Value (MAV) exceedances of E.coli in drinking water between 1 January 2026 and 10 February 2026 relating to severe weather events are included below: • Three notifications were submitted for publicly…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What additional regulatory or oversight powers, if any, has Taumata Arowai requested from the Minister in regards to wastewater services?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
As part of the legislative process for the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, the Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai provided the Minister of Local Government with advice on options for additional powers for water services…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What additional regulatory or oversight powers, if any, has Taumata Arowai requested from the Minister in regards to stormwater services?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
As part of the legislative process for the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, the Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai provided the Minister of Local Government with advice on options for additional powers for water services…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
When writing the Water Services (Wastewater Environmental Performance Standards) Regulations 2025, did the international regulatory practice that was reviewed apply to receiving waterbodies that are comparable to waterbodies in New Zealand?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Yes. The comparability of receiving water bodies assisted, by way of example, the classification of receiving environments, the necessary and appropriate treatment limits for each of those receiving environments, and the deployment of risk…
Asked by
Francisco Hernandez
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What is the current level of compliance, if any, within the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, with NZ Government Web Standards, which require public sector…
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai undertook work to refresh its website in mid-2025. This included usability and accessibility testing and specialist advice which has resulted in the Authority’s website becoming partially…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 9 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I have received the following aides-memoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, and other advice from the Department of Internal Affairs during the week beginning 9 February 2026: • Briefing: Options to progress a government review into Moa…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 9 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
None
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 2 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I have received the following aides-memoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, and other advice from the Department of Internal Affairs during the week beginning 2 February 2026: • Email Advice: [Title withheld] - 3/02/2026 • Cabinet…
Asked by
Tangi Utikere
Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 2 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
None
Asked by
Francisco Hernandez
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend fixing database security breaches in the 2023 calendar year?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
None. The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai had no database security breaches in the 2023 calendar year.
Asked by
Francisco Hernandez
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend fixing database security breaches in the 2022 calendar year?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
None. The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai had no database security breaches in the 2022 calendar year.
Asked by
Francisco Hernandez
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend fixing database security breaches in the 2024 calendar year?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
None. The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai had no database security breaches in the 2024 calendar year.
Asked by
Francisco Hernandez
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend fixing database security breaches in the 2025 calendar year?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai identified one non-malicious database security breach in the 2025 calendar year. The Authority spent $440.00 for an external provider to isolate the issue, and Authority staff deployed a fix with…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What advice, if any, has the Minister received from Taumata Arowai in response to an international expert group convened by the Danish Government who recommended that the limit value for nitrate in drinking water in Denmark be lowered from…
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
None. The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai works with the Ministry of Health to assess the appropriateness of the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand and Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules. The Ministry is responsible for…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What correspondence, if any, has the Minister received from Taumata Arowai in regard to the wastewater bypasses/overflows and subsequent contamination of beach water quality in Auckland this summer (2025-2026)?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai has provided me with advice about overflows/bypasses in Auckland in the correspondence below. It has not provided me with specific advice regarding contamination of beach water quality in…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What correspondence, if any, has the Minister received from Taumata Arowai in regard to the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant failure, which commenced 04/02/26, and the subsequent ongoing discharge of untreated sewage?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai has kept the Minister informed of the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant failure through weekly updates and correspondence on a ‘no-surprises’ basis. Regional authorities are responsible for…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What additional regulatory or oversight powers, if any, has Taumata Arowai requested from the Minister in regards to drinking water services?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
As part of the legislative process for the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 (the Act) the Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai provided the Minister of Local Government with a suite of documents with advice on the options for…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
What advice has the Minister received on the potential impact of a third of wastewater plants operating on expired consents, listed by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
Addressing the number of plants operating on expired consents is a key driver of the wastewater standards. The advice provided to the Minister during 2025 to support decision making regarding the development of the wastewater standards has…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Have Veolia ever raised concerns with the Minister about potential issues at any wastewater plants they operate in Aotearoa?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
No
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
On how many occasions has the Minister corresponded with Veolia, the company that operates Wellington's wastewater plants, and did they at any point raise potential issues of failing sewerage plants they operate?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I have not corresponded with Veolia beyond receiving an invitation to meet on 12 February 2026. This meeting invitation was declined.
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
On how many occasions has the Minister met with Veolia, the company operating the wastewater treatment plants in Wellington, and did they at any point raise potential issues of failing sewerage plants they operate?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
I have not met with Veolia, the company operating the wastewater treatment plants in Wellington.
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
Matching question numbers: 3951 (2026), 3997 (2026), 3998 (2026)
Question published
How many, if any, Wastewater Treatment Plants reported an incidence of non-compliance between 1 January 2026 and 10 February 2026?
Question published
Which, if any, wastewater treatment operators or consent holders faced a monetary fine as a result of enforcement action taken against them in response to non-compliance between 1 January 2026 and 12 February 2026, listed by name and…
Question published
Which, if any, wastewater treatment operators or consent holders faced a monetary fine as a result of enforcement action taken against them in response to non-compliance in 2025, listed by name and location?
Question published
Which, if any, wastewater treatment plant operators or consent holders had enforcement action taken against them in response to non-compliance in between 1 January 2026 and 12 February 2026, listed by name and location?
Question published
Which, if any, wastewater treatment plant operators or consent holders had enforcement action taken against them in response to non-compliance in 2025, listed by name and location?
Question published
Which, if any, Wastewater Treatment Plants reported an incidence of non-compliance in 2025, listed by name and location?
Question published
Which, if any, Wastewater Treatment Plants reported an incidence of non-compliance between 1 January 2026 and 11 February 2026, listed by name and location?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai (the Authority) does not hold this information. Regional Councils are responsible for the consenting of discharges from treatment plants, and the enforcement of compliance with those consents.…
Asked by
Lan Pham
List MP · Green Party
(matches this search)
Which, if any, drinking water treatment plant operators faced enforcement action in response to any non-compliance with drinking water standards or rules between 1 January 2026 and 12 February 2026, listed by name and location?
Answered by
Hon Simon Watts
Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government
The Water Services Authority—Taumata Arowai did not take enforcement action regarding non-compliance with drinking water standards or rules, between 1 January 2026 and 12 February 2026.