Talking Politics With Sam Uffindell Tauranga City MP

The Government recently rebranded its disastrous proposed Three Waters legislation. As the saying goes: You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

This is an asset grab and a descent into undemocratic co-governance. The new name does nothing to address these major concerns. The only differences are a new name and expanding the number of controlling entities from four to 10.

Tauranga doesn't need or want these reforms. We already have some of the best water systems in New Zealand. Our ratepayers have funded nation-leading water systems and we sure want to keep them. The claim that these reforms will make water cheaper for us is absolute gas lighting and the Government's claimed savings have been ridiculed when peer reviewed.

I was surprised to see Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer welcome the changes, saying the Government had listened to councils and the community. The Government hasn't listened. If they had, they would flush their rebranded Three Waters down the drain. The Mayor's position doesn't reflect the views of his deep blue constituents. The majority of councils around NZ will continue to oppose Labour's rebranded Three Waters because it hasn't altered the two major concerns: taking local assets and control off councils; and forcing them into undemocratic co-governance arrangements.

I'm proud to be the Tauranga MP and proud that the National Party has listened to communities and councils. We will repeal Three Waters and replace it with what they want; Local Water Done Well.