The Central Otago Mayor has been appointed to a working group made up of local government and iwi representatives to recommend strengthened governance and accountability arrangements for the reform programme
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta this week announced the establishment of the working group with Mr Cadogan being the sole southern representative.
Mr Cadogan said his appointment was a great opportunity to put Central Otago’s perspective and those of the provincial and rural parts of the country into the ongoing discussion.
‘‘As I have maintained since the Government announced that the reforms will be mandatory, my view is that it is far better to be inside the tent working for the best outcome than outside making noise and this appointment is an opportunity to make the best of what is being proposed for the people of Central Otago and New Zealand now and into the distant future.’’
The Government shocked councils grappling with what the reforms meant for them by mandating the reforms on October 27 in a U-turn on its previous position of making it voluntary for councils to join.
In announcing the working group Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the feedback from local government over the two-month engagement period had raised several concerns about the proposed representation, governance and accountability arrangements for the new entities.
‘‘To address this, Cabinet agreed to establish a working group to take a fresh look at these aspects of the entity design,’’ Ms Mahuta said.
The initiative was an important step the Three Waters reform which aimed to ensure every New Zealander had access to affordable, safe and sustainable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services without ballooning costs to households and families, the minister said.
The Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability of new Water Services Entities comprises 20 members, including an independent chairman, nine elected members of local authorities, nine iwi/Maori representatives, and the joint Central-Local Government Three Waters Steering Committee chariman.
Mr Cadogan will join the group’s independent chairman, Doug Martin, a former deputy state services commissioner .
Significantly, Mr Martin helped design the State Sector Act 1988.
Other mayors to join the group include Phil Goff (Auckland), Jason Smith (Kaipara), Garry Webber (Western Bay of Plenty), Neil Holdom (New Plymouth), Campbell Barry (Lower Hutt), Rachel Reese (Nelson), Lianne Dalziel (Christchurch) and Lyn Patterson (Masterton).
Mr Martin was a member of Auckland Council’s Council-Controlled Organisation Independent Review Panel and was appointed Crown Manager to Christchurch City Council to help it regain its accreditation as a building consent authority.
Iwi/Maori representatives include Ngarimu Blair, Jamie Tuuta, Karen Vercoe, Ngahiwi Tomoana, Olivia Hall, Gabrielle Huria, Barry Bragg, and John Bishara.
The chairman of the joint Central-Local Government Three Waters Steering Committee is Brian Hanna.
