I really annoyed some Mayoral colleagues this week, but such is life.  I was in a meeting of Mayors and CE’s from across New Zealand on Zoom following the Government announcement as to mandating the Three Waters reforms.

As you might imagine, many Mayors were screaming their outrage at the injustice of what has happened and demanding that action be taken such as taking the Government to court or walking away from future discussions.

When I had a chance to speak, I pointed out that taking Governments to court doesn’t really work and if you want a real-life example, have a look at the Clyde Dam.  An initial grant of water rights for the dam was overturned by the High Court in 1982 following an appeal by landowners. 

The Muldoon Government simply overturned this decision through passing the Clutha Development (Clyde Dam) Empowering Act 1982.

I also pointed out that I spent a career in court in a situation much as Local Government finds itself now, being faced with an opponent that had all the power.  In the case of the Court, it is the Judge; in the case of the Three Waters, it is a majority Government. 

I also mentioned that many people I saw in Court failed in any way to recognise the part they themselves had played in getting themselves in the difficult position they were in.  I pointed out that the reforms would not be happening if it wasn’t for generations of underinvestment by Councils that has led to a massive infrastructure deficit across the country.  

I also pointed out that the reforms would possibly not have been mandated if it wasn’t for the effect of the misinformation campaign that has been run about them; in many cases led by fellow Mayors.

As I say, I really annoyed some of my Mayoral colleagues, but the truth can hurt.

I am far from thrilled with where we have wound up in the reform process.  Communities should have had a chance to say what their views were in relation to the reforms rather than have them forced on us and there are many aspects of what lies ahead of us that troubles me and my fellow councillors.

So, where to from here? What is the best way forward for a district of 24,000 people? There is temptation to shout from the highest rooftop about the unfairness of this outcome, but there are plenty of Mayors doing that. 

However, given the clear stand the Government has taken on this matter, I question whether doing so, while expressing what many in Central Otago undoubtedly feel, will serve us well in the long run.

That there are Working Groups to be formed to continue to work on crucial parts of the proposal gives some hope that council’s and therefore community voices will still be heard in refining what we have been given. 

It is good that there will be further discussions around some of the concerns raised by your and other councils through these groups and that there will be smaller council representation on those groups.

There is still a lot of work that can be done to try to influence much needed changes to the final outcome especially from a rural perspective such as ours and that is where I intend to put my focus and energy moving forward.