Written questions

Search written questions to Ministers and the replies they have received.

Showing 1 to 34 of 34 written questions.

Awaiting reply Question 41271 (2026)
Question published

41271 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

Does the Minister agree with Mayor Liz McMillan's comment around reorganisation that "Ideally, any change from the Government should also come with funding to make the changes, however, it does not look like this will be the case", and if…

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41056 (2026)
Question published

41056 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

When, exactly, will Taumata Arowai publish its "Drinking Water Regulation Report 2025"?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41055 (2026)
Question published

41055 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

How many, if any, boil water notices have been issued in 2026 to date?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41054 (2026)
Question published

41054 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

How many, if any, do not drink notices have been issued in 2026 to date?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41053 (2026)
Question published

41053 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

Where, if anywhere, have breaches of the Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand) Regulations been found in 2026 to date, and what measure of water quality did the breaches relate to?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41052 (2026)
Question published

41052 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

Where, if anywhere, were 'do not drink' notices issued in 2026 to date, listed by name and location?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41051 (2026)
Question published

41051 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

Where, if anywhere, were 'boil water' notices issued in 2026 to date, listed by name and location?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41050 (2026)
Question published

41050 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

Where, if anywhere, are drinking water supplies currently facing additional monitoring requirements for nitrate as a result of exceeding half of the Maximum Acceptable Value for nitrate in drinking water?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41049 (2026)
Question published

41049 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

Where, if anywhere, currently has a long term 'do not drink' or 'boil water' notice in place for their drinking water supply?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41011 (2026)
Question published

41011 (2026). Arena Williams to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Arena Williams

Member for Manurewa · Labour Party

Question

What, if anything, was the original amount of Better Off Funding allocated for the Existing Tenant Support Fund by the Department of Internal Affairs in 2022?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 41002 (2026)
Question published

41002 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What communications has the Minister had, if any, from Councils or Local Government New Zealand regarding the timeframes for Representation Reviews and/or requests for the ability to defer them?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 40885 (2026)
Question published

40885 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their office received, if any, during the week beginning 07/09/2026, by title and date?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 40884 (2026)
Question published

40884 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 07/09/2026, by title and date?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 40820 (2026)
Question published

40820 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 7 September 2026, by title and date?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 40789 (2026)
Question published

40789 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What advice, documents, correspondence or briefings has the Minister or any member of his office had, if any, on whether Councils face potential credit rating downgrades due to the rates capping legislation and what did it indicate?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 40705 (2026)
Question published

40705 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 7 September 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 39780 (2026)
Question published

39780 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What advice, documents or briefings has the Minister or any member of his office had, if any, on any alternative or additional funding mechanisms for local government such as GST sharing, congestion/time of use charging, or accommodation…

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Answered Question 39777 (2026)
Question published

39777 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

Has the Minister read the Review into the Future for Local Government Report and if he has, what actions, if any, does he believe would be valuable next steps?

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

I have not read the report in full.

Awaiting reply Question 39716 (2026)
Question published

39716 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

How many councils, if any, have advised the Minister or the Department of Internal Affairs that the reduction in the share of their land transport costs met by the New Zealand Transport Agency from 2027/28 will affect their ability to…

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 39715 (2026)
Question published

39715 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

What was the average rates increase set by each council for the 2026/27 financial year, broken down by council, and how does each compare with the level of the proposed cap on rates increases?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 39714 (2026)
Question published

39714 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

What estimate, if any, has the Minister received of the change in the total amount of central government funding transferred to local authorities over the three years from 1 July 2027, across all portfolios and not only transport, broken…

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 39713 (2026)
Question published

39713 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What advice, reports or briefings, has the Minister or any member of his office had, if any, on the impact that removing water services from the rates calculation as a result of Local Water Done Well and/or Rates Capping legislation, will…

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 39711 (2026)
Question published

39711 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What advice, reports, briefings, aides memoire, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their Office received, if any, during the week beginning 31 August 2026, by title and date?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Awaiting reply Question 39654 (2026)
Question published

39654 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

How many people, if any, have written to the Minister with a complaint about non-elected members on Council committees, between January 1 2026 and June 2 2026, by month?

For answer by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No reply has been published yet.

Answered Question 39653 (2026)
Question published

39653 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

Does the Minister agree with Mayors Phil Mauger and Mel Tavendale and LGNZ that many of the drivers of rates’ increases, such as government mandates, inflation, insurance and interest rates, are out of their Council’s control and, if so,…

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

I agree that many factors drive council rates, and that councils can control some more than others. Consideration of what should and should not be included in the rates cap during the policy development process.

Answered Question 39650 (2026)
Question published

39650 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

Why did the Minister include the 31.4% water services portion of the Watiaki District Council's Annual Plan in answer to an oral question on ‘how much ratepayers could save with a rates cap?' on August 26th, when water services are…

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

The example was given to demonstrate the delta between the proposed increase and a hypothetical 4% increase.

Answered Question 39649 (2026)
Question published

39649 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

Will the Minister apologise to the Waitaki District Council for using their 2026/27 Annual Plan to demonstrate the savings a rates cap could have made in answer to oral question 4 on 26 August 2026, without first taking out the water…

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

No.

Answered Question 39648 (2026)
Question published

39648 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What portion of the average 14% rates increase across the country used in his answer to an oral question on 26 August 2026 that "In 2024, we saw average rates increases across the country of 14 percent. If we’d had a 4 percent rates cap at…

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

The 14% increases relate to median projected total rates increases, as reported in the Local Government Performance information on the MCERT website.

Answered Question 39646 (2026)
Question published

39646 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their Office received, if any, during the week beginning 24 August 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

I refer the member to my response to question 38173 (2026).

Answered Question 39643 (2026)
Question published

39643 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Mike Davidson

List MP · Green Party

Question

What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 24 August 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

None.

Answered Question 39637 (2026)
Question published

39637 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

What advice, reports, briefings, aide memoires, or any other documents has the Minister or any member of their office received, if any, during the week beginning 31/08/2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

Refer to 39387 (2026)

Answered Question 39635 (2026)
Question published

39635 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Lan Pham

List MP · Green Party

Question

What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 31/08/2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

I refer the member to 39487 (2026).

Answered Question 39487 (2026)
Question published

39487 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 31 August 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Simon Watts

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

Answer

None.

Answered Question 39387 (2026)
Question published

39387 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 31 August 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

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 Department of Internal Affairs during the week beginning 29 August 2026 • 31/08/2026- Meeting with…