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Showing 201 to 250 of 669 written question sets.

Answered

Question 34195 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What algorithm impact assessments, if any, have been done in the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, since 27 November 2023?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai advises that it has not conducted algorithm impact assessments. No algorithm impact assessments have been completed since 27 November 2023, as no automated decision-making systems or artificial…

Answered

Question 33762 (2026)

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Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Since November 2025, how many people, if any, have written to the Minister with a complaint about non-elected members on Council committees, broken down into months?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I receive a large volume of correspondence relating to local government and do not maintain a record of correspondence by specific topic. As a result, answering your question would require a manual review of all relevant correspondence.…

Answered

Question 33323 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 19 July 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 33428 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (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 19 July 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

As the Minister of Local Government, I received the following aides-mémoires, briefings, memos, notes, reports or any other advice during the week beginning 19 July 2026: • 20/07/2026 Aide Memoire - Meeting with Local Government Commission…

Answered

Question 33176 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What further modelling work, if any, is being undertaken by Hawke's Bay Regional Council on the technical issue affecting the Wairoa flood resilience project?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport that the Hawke's Bay Regional Council's engineering consultant has carried out further hydraulic river modelling and morphodynamic modelling (modelling of riverbed…

Answered

33177, 33178, 33179 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Questions

  • 33177 (matches this search)

    What options are being considered to mitigate the delay to the Wairoa flood resilience project caused by the technical issue recently identified with that project, and when will an update on those options be provided?

  • 33178 (matches this search)

    Is there a risk that the Wairoa flood resilience project cannot be completed within a single construction season as a result of the technical issue recently identified with the project, and what would the consequences be for the Wairoa…

  • 33179 (matches this search)

    What is the current forecast completion date for the Wairoa flood resilience project, and how does that compare with the completion date in the original project delivery plan?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport that the technical issue has now been resolved, with a design solution identified. I understand this has not impacted the project timeline, and construction is…

Answered

Question 33180 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What is the technical issue affecting the design process for the Wairoa flood resilience project that was identified in the March 2026 quarterly recovery progress update on the 2023 North Island Weather Events?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The issue related to an elevated risk of river avulsion identified in initial flood modelling, occurring when the spillway is activated in a 1-in-100-year design flood event or in events exceeding this. This issue has been resolved as per…

Answered

Question 33182 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did the Department of Internal Affairs raise any concern with Wellington metropolitan councils about the higher consumer water charges resulting from their choice to allocate water-related debt on the basis of asset value including…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I’m advised by the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport that discussions were held with all councils including the Wellington metropolitan councils about the financial sustainability of their water service delivery.

Answered

Question 33183 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    After the Department of Internal Affairs' assessment that the Wellington metropolitan councils' allocation methodology for water-related debt results in relatively high charges to consumers, what, if anthying, is the Government doing to…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

As has been publicly reported, I was concerned at initial reports from Tiaki Wai in a draft water services strategy (WSS) that the proposed water services charges for the 26/27 year were higher than outlined in the accepted water services…

Answered

Question 33184 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What is the Department of Internal Affairs' estimate of the difference in the level of water-related debt transferred, and in the resulting charges to consumers, arising from the asset-value methodology used by Wellington metropolitan…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Where a water organisation is being established, each council determines their own methodology to transfer water-related debt into that water organisation reflecting local choice about balance sheet structure and intergenerational funding.…

Answered

Question 33185 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did Wellington metropolitan councils allocate water-related debt to the water entity Tiaki Wai on the basis of asset value including revaluation, while other councils allocated water-related debt on the basis of share of capital investment…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Yes.

Answered

Question 33186 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Does the Minister of Local Government have full confidence in the process the Department of Internal Affairs used to assess councils' water services delivery plans, and on what basis?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Yes, on the basis that the process followed the requirements as set out in the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024.

Answered

Question 33187 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Following the Department of Internal Affairs providing its aide-memoire on the water services delivery plan review and assessment process, did the Minister of Finance or the Minister for Infrastructure raise any concerns about that…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

No.

Answered

Question 33188 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Was the assessment or acceptance of any particular council's water services delivery plan raised by any Minister at, or following, the Infrastructure and Investment Ministers Group meeting of 13 May 2026; if so, which council and what was…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

No.

Answered

Question 33191 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Does the Minister of Local Government consider that acceptance of a water services delivery plan by the Secretary for Local Government confirms that the plan is financially sustainable, as the acceptance letter in almost all cases included…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Secretary for Local Government can only accept a water services delivery plan if it meets the requirements of the Act, including the need to explain how the respective Councils, or grouping of Councils future delivery of water services…

Answered

Question 33192 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Will the Minister of Local Government release the financial and technical assessment report and the Secretary for Local Government's acceptance letter for each council's water services delivery plan?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I refer the Member to the MCERT website link below where all water services delivery plans and respective assessment reports are published. Acceptance letters were issued by the Secretary for Local Government.…

Answered

Question 33193 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Of the water services delivery plans accepted by the Secretary for Local Government, how many included items to be monitored during implementation, and how many were accepted without any such items?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport that of accepted water services delivery plans, three were accepted with no monitoring conditions and 36 were accepted with items to be monitored through…

Answered

33194, 33195 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Questions

  • 33194 (matches this search)

    For each council whose water services delivery plan was not accepted by the Secretary for Local Government, on what grounds was the plan not accepted, and has each of those councils since had an amended plan accepted?

  • 33195 (matches this search)

    Which councils had their water services delivery plans not accepted by the Secretary for Local Government under the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 and were required to resubmit amended plans?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport that three water services delivery plans were not accepted – those plans being from Mackenze District Council, Waitaki District Council and the Chatham Islands…

Answered

Question 33196 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What safeguards are in place, if any, to ensure that a private technology company such as Anori does not gain a commercial advantage in the local government or resource management sectors as a result of access to Ministers or officials?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

No private company receives commercial advantage simply through meeting with Ministers or officials.

Corrected reply

Question 33197 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has the AI company Anori, or any representative of it, sought any government funding, contract, or procurement opportunity relating to local government or the built environment; if so, what was sought and what was the outcome?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Corrected reply: No.

Answered

Question 33198 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Which New Zealand councils or entities does the Minister of Local Government understand the AI company Anori to have pilot activity underway with in New Zealand?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

This information is subject to commercial sensitivities, as such it would be inappropriate for it to be released.

Answered

Question 33026 (2026)

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Asked by

Tamatha Paul

Member for Wellington Central · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to his reply to Written Question 32122, why has the government proceeded with requiring councils to amalgamate despite no estimates of the potential costs to councils?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Because the government's voluntary Headstart process allows councils to decide the shape of their proposals, including which councils they comprise, representation, and how they manage services such as transport. The cost of any proposal…

Answered

Question 33027 (2026)

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Asked by

Tamatha Paul

Member for Wellington Central · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to his reply to Written Question 32122, is it not possible to provide the requested information because it does not exist?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The total change costs to councils of amalgamating, broken down by council, region, and total does not exist for the reasons stated in Written Question 32122.

Answered

Question 32122 (2026)

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Asked by

Tamatha Paul

Member for Wellington Central · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What, if any, does the government estimate to be the change costs to councils of amalgamating, broken down by council, region, and total if available?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

It is not possible to provide the information the member has requested, as the change cost would ultimately depend on the scope of any amalgamation, the individual councils, the number of councils in any particular amalgamation, and…

Answered

Question 31564 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (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 6 July 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

As the Minister of Local Government, I received the following advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents from the Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport during the week beginning 6 July 2026 •…

Answered

Question 31669 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 6 July 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 31212 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, have the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, budgeted for the carbon neutral government programme in the 2026/27 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Water Services Authority has budgeted $8,000 in the 2026/27 financial year to conduct a carbon audit. The Local Government Commission is not covered by the direction that Crown Agents implement the carbon neutral government programme…

Answered

Question 31232 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (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 on the carbon neutral government programme in the 2025/26 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Water Services Authority spent $6,920 on a carbon audit during the 2025/26 financial year. The Local Government Commission is not covered by the direction that Crown Agents implement the carbon neutral government programme and did not…

Answered

Question 31240 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, was spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2022-2023 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Water Services Authority has a Crown-appointed Board and Māori Advisory Group. The remuneration of the members is set as per the Cabinet Fees Framework [CO(25)2]. The total cost of WSA members’ remuneration was $168,213 for the 2022/23…

Answered

Question 31242 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, is forecast to be spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2026-27 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Water Services Authority has a Crown-appointed Board and Māori Advisory Group. The remuneration of all members is set as per the Cabinet Fees Framework [CO(25)2]. The Water Services Authority has budgeted $257,150 for the remuneration…

Answered

Question 31245 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, was spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2025-26 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Water Services Authority has a Crown-appointed Board Māori Advisory Group. The remuneration of the members is set as per the Cabinet Fees Framework [CO(25)2]. The total cost of WSA members’ remuneration was $190,136 for the 2025/26…

Answered

Question 31250 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, was spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2023-24 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Water Services Authority has a Crown-appointed Board and Māori Advisory Group. The remuneration of the members is set as per the Cabinet Fees Framework [CO(25)2]. The total cost of Water Services Authority members’ remuneration was…

Answered

Question 30922 (2026)

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Asked by

Barbara Edmonds

Member for Mana · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has the Minister instructed any chief executive not to action the head count reduction targets or baseline savings exercise as part of Budget 2026, and if so, which chief executives?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I refer the member to page 72 of the Budget 2026 - Summary of Initiatives - 28 May 2026 which outlines information relevant to the Baseline Savings initiative including which agencies are excluded.…

Answered

Question 30925 (2026)

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Asked by

Barbara Edmonds

Member for Mana · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What instructions, if any, has the Minister given to the Chief Executives they are responsible about the public service headcount reduction targets or baseline savings exercise as part of Budget 2026?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

There were no Budget 2026 instructions to the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai (the Authority) regarding public service head count reduction targets or baseline savings exercises. As a Crown entity, the Authority is required to…

Answered

Question 30461 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (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 29 June 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

• 29/06/2026 - Title withheld • 29/06/2026 - Talkin points for call with Mayor Mel Tavendale, Waitaki District Mayor • 30/06/2026 - Title withheld • 30/06/2026 - Meeting with the Commerce Commission, 1 July 2026 • 30/06/2026 - Regulatory…

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Question 30566 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 29 June 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 30242 (2026)

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Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Does the Minister believe that Councils leading tourism related activities are aligned with the core services described in the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill, and if so, why?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Yes. Councils are ultimately responsible for the activities they undertake. The new purpose of local government and the core services of local authorities in the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill (the Bill) are intended…

Answered

Question 30243 (2026)

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Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has the Minister received on the cost to local government for leading tourism-related initiatives?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I have not received any advice on the cost to local government for leading tourism-related initiatives.

Answered

Question 30244 (2026)

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Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What communication, if any, has the Minister had with his colleague, the Minister of Tourism, about the Tourism Strategy system roles, especially leading "Marketing to New Zealanders to travel and attend events within New Zealand is…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I have not had any communication on the tourism strategy with the Minister of Tourism.

Answered

Question 30245 (2026)

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Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has the Minister received from the local government sector regarding funding tourism-related initiatives, given the proposed restrictions on local government in the Local Government (Systems Improvement) Amendment Bill?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The assertion in the members question is based on is not correct. The Bill does not restrict local authorities from funding tourism-related initiatives—it requires councils to think carefully about the core services before investing in…

Answered

Question 30295 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did the Office of Treaty Settlements advise that, without an explicit exclusion for Treaty settlement arrangements, existing and future Treaty settlements could be compromised or placed at risk by the Government's proposal to amend the…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Feedback from the Office of Treaty Settlements on this proposal is outlined in my proactively released Cabinet paper Local Authority Committees: Policy Decisions. I am advised that the Office of Treaty Settlements expressed support for an…

Answered

Question 30161 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has the Minister received on whether water service providers that sought to have water services strategies in place by 30 June 2026 were able to do so?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The Department of Internal Affairs provided updates to the Minister of Local Government through the weekly status reports about the three water organisations that were expected to publish their water services strategies by 30 June 2026.…

Answered

Question 30162 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has the Minister received on whether the current postal voting system contains sufficient safeguards to detect and prevent electoral fraud?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

As Minister of Local Government, I received advice that the mechanisms for identifying irregularities in an election are working as they should. In the case of irregularities in the Papatoetoe local board subdivision election, issues were…

Answered

Question 30163 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Was an actual estimated per-election-cycle cost of transitioning all local elections to booth voting included in briefing LG20258140, and if so, why were they withheld from the public?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Yes, and it was not withheld from the public. Briefing LG20258140 mentions booth voting being 4-5 times the price of postal voting (i.e. up to $200 million) and be significantly more complex.

Answered

Question 30164 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What criteria, if any, will the Minister apply in deciding whether to use the secondary legislation power in the Amendment Paper to the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill to exclude particular committee types from the…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

I expect to be able to clarify the process when the amendment is tabled in due course.

Answered

Question 30165 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has the Minister received on whether the policy to 'prevent non-democratically elected members' affects joint committees established between local authorities and iwi under co-governance arrangements that are not…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

The policy impacts all committees established, except those established under separate legislation (for example treaty settlement legislation)

Answered

Question 30166 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Why did the Minister choose to introduce the changes to the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill via an Amendment Paper at the Committee of the Whole House stage, bypassing select committee scrutiny, rather than through…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

To address this issue expeditiously

Answered

Question 30167 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Does the Minister consider the evidence base for amendments to the Local Government Act 2002 to be adequate, when the Department of Internal Affairs' Regulatory Impact Analysis panel found the RIS could not meet the consulted criterion and…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

Yes

Answered

Question 30168 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many council committees currently include iwi or hapū representatives appointed under Treaty settlement or redress legislation who hold voting rights, and did the Minister seek or receive that figure before bringing the proposal…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

iwi or hapū representatives appointed under Treaty settlement or redress legislation are not affected by the changes to voting rights I announced.

Answered

30169, 30173 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Questions

  • 30169 (matches this search)

    Does the Minister think that skipping the standard exposure draft consultation process for the wastewater regulations was a mistake, and what specific process change, if any, has the Minister put in place to prevent equivalent drafting…

  • 30173 (matches this search)

    Was an exposure draft of the Water Services (Wastewater Environmental Performance Standards) Regulations 2025 released for technical review before they were made on 17 November 2025, and if not, why not?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

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

Answer

No