The government says they have listened to concerns around the Three Waters models and are now proposing major changes to the reform.
The largest of the changes will now see 10 region-led entities formed instead of four that were initially proposed.
The changes also see Three Waters reform now relabeled as affordable water reform.
Under the original proposal, Nelson would have joined Entity C, along with Wellington, while Tasman and Marlborough would have been split between two entities.
With the latest change Nelson and most of Tasman and Marlborough would become part of their own entity – Entity H, however the boundary would still see Murchison, Ward and Seddon separated into a separate entity.
The borders of the new entity will be based on existing regional boundaries.
Nelson MP Rachel Boyack says the changes are welcome news.
“I want to thank our mayors and councils for their constructive engagement over the past few weeks as we reviewed this essential water reform programme”, she says.
Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty says feedback from Local Government had been clear.
“Our water infrastructure deficit needs to be addressed now if we’re to save households from ballooning bills that will make water unaffordable. But also, that the reform programme must be led at a regional level - we have listened closely and absolutely agree.
“By extending the number of publicly owned water entities to 10, every district council in the country will have a say and representation over their local water services entities through regional representative groups, forming a partnership between council representatives and iwi/Māori that will provide strategic oversight and direction to the entities,” he says.
“These groups will continue to sit below the governance board, in which each member will be appointed on merit and qualification, but by increasing the number of entities we will be able to ensure the needs of every community, especially small rural towns, are heard and met.”
Nelson's National Party candidate Blair Cameron says Nelsonians have been very clear - they want local water assets kept in local hands, without divisive co-governance structures imposed on them.
"Labour's rebrand shows they don't get it. They're the same reforms, just with a new coat of paint.
"The number of entities in the reforms is not what Kiwis are worried about - they care about ownership and control and Labour's rejigged proposal still strips away local decision-making."
Rachel says, under the proposal to establish 10 entities, households across the Top of the South will still make big savings, projected at $1,520 - $5,780 a year by 2054.
“These reforms are absolutely essential. Leaving things as they are will mean unaffordable rate bills and infrastructure that isn’t up to the task of dealing with extreme weather events like last year's Nelson floods,” she says.
