LG20240320 MOIA A Collins COMBINED DOCUMENTS.pdf

Document 1
Hon Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Energy
Minister for Auckland
Minister of Local Government
Deputy Leader of the House
Minister of Transport
Mayor Wayne Brown
Auckland Council
CC: Phil Wilson, Chief Executive
Dear Wayne
New direction for water services delivery
This morning I announced that earlier this week Cabinet agreed to repeal the previous
government’s water services legislation. I also signalled next steps for implementing our plan
for water services, Local Water Done Well.
I wish to provide you with further information about three key aspects of our plan, to ensure
you have the clarity and certainty you need as you develop your council’s 2024-34 long-term
plan and prepare for your next financial year:
1. Repeal of the previous government’s water services legislation
2. Options to help your council complete its 2024-34 long-term plan
3. Local Water Done Well – key principles of our future direction for water services.
I want to acknowledge that councils across the country are facing multiple challenges,
including pressures with water infrastructure. I also want to acknowledge that many councils
have done a good job of managing their water infrastructure, and that there is not a one size
fits all solution to moving to more financially sustainable water services.
The Government is committed to addressing the longstanding challenges this country is
facing with our water services infrastructure.
Our Local Water Done Well approach recognises the importance of local decision making
and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be
delivered in future. We will do this while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting rules for
water quality and investment in infrastructure.
1. Repealing the previous Government’s water services legislation
Cabinet has agreed to introduce a repeal bill that will restore council ownership and control
of water infrastructure and services. The bill makes the following changes:
• All legislation relating to water services entities will be repealed (Water Services
Entities Act 2022, Water Services Entities Amendment Act 2023, and Water Services
Legislation Act 2023).
• Previous legislation related to the provision of water services will be reinstated
(including local government legislation). This will restore continued council ownership
and control of water services, and responsibility for service delivery.
• The Northland and Auckland Water Services Entity (the only entity that had been
legally established under the Water Services Entities Act 2022) will be disestablished
and any outstanding work on the entity’s set-up will cease.
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz

• Councils will need to add and integrate information about water services into their
2024 long-term plans. Some transitional support options are available to assist you
(below).
The repeal bill is expected to be introduced in February 2024 and enacted as soon as
possible. I am committed to a swift parliamentary process to ensure the Northland and
Auckland entity is disestablished well in advance of its operational start date of 1 July 2024.
2. Options to help your council complete its 2024-34 long-term plan
I am aware that current legislation precludes Auckland and Northland councils from including
any water services material in your long-term planning documents.
Through the repeal bill I am seeking to rectify this as soon as possible, to ensure you are
able to plan for and finance water services, to reflect the continuation of your responsibilities.
To provide flexibility for different councils’ local circumstances and preferences, Cabinet has
agreed the repeal bill will include temporary modifications to local government legislation for
the transitional period affecting the 2024 long-term plans. Once the bill is passed, these
options will be available for councils to use as appropriate.
If your council is…  Options available
Starting to prepare  The enacted provisions clarify that the council can include
or consult on long-
water services material in the final plan, without re-
term planning
consulting, but:
material that
includes water
• Must include new/updated information on water services in its
services
final plan – to reflect the continuation of its responsibilities;
information –
• Must consider the views and preferences of affected and
ahead of the repeal
interested persons as it considers appropriate; and
bill being enacted
• Does not have to delay the adoption of its long-term plan past
30 June 2024 (in order to provide opportunities for public
consultation on its revised proposals).
Transitional provisions will also help ensure the risks of
future legal challenge (associated with concerns about
possible issues in process) will be minimised.
Needing more time  The statutory deadline by which the 2024 long-term plan
to develop and
must be adopted will be extended by three months – to 30
consult on long-
September 2024.
term planning
material
I understand you may not choose this option given you have
indicated your preference to adopt by 30 June 2024.
However, this flexibility may be desirable to smaller councils with
fewer resources, or those councils that would prefer to wait until
the repeal legislation is enacted before starting consultation.
The deadline for adopting the 2023/24 annual reports will also be
extended, to reflect the possible overlap in auditing processes if
councils are taking longer than usual to finalise the long-term
plan.

If your council is… Options available
Councils will be permitted to have unaudited long-term plan
consultation documents.
This would allow auditing of the final long-term plan to proceed in
tandem with consultation, to help achieve statutory deadlines.
3. Local Water Done Well – key principles of our future direction for water services
With Local Water Done Well we are going to do things in a way that recognises the
importance of local decision making and flexibility for communities and councils to determine
how their water services will be delivered in future. We will do this while ensuring a strong
emphasis on meeting rules for water quality and investment in infrastructure.
We want to enable councils and communities to determine what works best for them, while
establishing clear expectations and bottom lines.
Key principles of our future plan for the delivery of water services include:
• Introducing greater central government oversight, economic and quality regulation.
• Fit-for-purpose service delivery models and financing tools, such as improving the
current council-controlled organisation model and developing a new class of financially
separate council-owned organisation.
• Setting rules for water services and infrastructure investment.
• Ensuring water services are financially sustainable. Financial sustainability means
revenue sufficiency, balance sheet separation, ring-fencing and funding for growth.
I intend to work with all councils on the development of our Local Water Done Well policy to
ensure it reflects your local needs and circumstances.
I look forward to working with you in the New Year to refine our approach to water services
delivery.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government

Document 2
Hon Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Energy
Minister for Auckland
Minister of Local Government
Deputy Leader of the House
Minister of Transport
Mayor Moko Tepania
Far North District Council
CC: Blair King, Chief Executive
Mayor Craig Jepsen
Kaipara District Council
CC: Jason Marris, Chief Executive
Dear Moko and Craig,
New direction for water services delivery
This morning I announced that earlier this week Cabinet agreed to repeal the previous
government’s water services legislation. I also signalled next steps for implementing our plan
for water services, Local Water Done Well.
I wish to provide you with further information about three key aspects of our plan, to ensure
you have the clarity and certainty you need as you develop your council’s 2024-34 long-term
plan and prepare for your next financial year:
1. Repeal of the previous government’s water services legislation
2. Options to help your council complete its 2024-34 long-term plan
3. Local Water Done Well – key principles of our future direction for water services.
I want to acknowledge that councils across the country are facing multiple challenges,
including pressures with water infrastructure. I also want to acknowledge that many councils
have done a good job of managing their water infrastructure, and that there is not a one size
fits all solution to moving to more financially sustainable water services.
The Government is committed to addressing the longstanding challenges this country is
facing with our water services infrastructure.
Our Local Water Done Well approach recognises the importance of local decision making
and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be
delivered in future. We will do this while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting rules for
water quality and investment in infrastructure.
1. Repealing the previous Government’s water services legislation
Cabinet has agreed to introduce a repeal bill that will restore council ownership and control
of water infrastructure and services. The bill makes the following changes:
• All legislation relating to water services entities will be repealed (Water Services
Entities Act 2022, Water Services Entities Amendment Act 2023, and Water Services
Legislation Act 2023).
• Previous legislation related to the provision of water services will be reinstated
(including local government legislation). This will restore continued council ownership
and control of water services, and responsibility for service delivery.
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz

• The Northland and Auckland Water Services Entity (the only entity that had been
legally established under the Water Services Entities Act 2022) will be disestablished
and any outstanding work on the entity’s set-up will cease.
• Councils will need to add and integrate information about water services into their
2024 long-term plans. Some transitional support options are available to assist you
(below).
The repeal bill is expected to be introduced in February 2024 and enacted as soon as
possible. I am committed to a swift parliamentary process to ensure the Northland and
Auckland entity is disestablished well in advance of its operational start date of 1 July 2024.
2. Options to help your council complete its long-term plan
I am aware that current legislation precludes Auckland and Northland councils from including
any water services material in your long-term planning documents.
Through the repeal bill I am seeking to rectify this as soon as possible, to ensure you are
able to plan for and finance water services, to reflect the continuation of your responsibilities.
To provide flexibility for different councils’ local circumstances and preferences, Cabinet has
agreed the repeal bill will include temporary modifications to local government legislation for
the transitional period affecting the 2024 long-term plans. Once the bill is passed, these
options will be available for councils to use, as appropriate.
I recognise that your councils have already been given some relief around the preparation of
your LTPs in response to the weather events earlier this year. As such, some of the
proposed modifications may be less relevant to you.
If your council is…  Options available
Starting to prepare  The enacted provisions clarify that the council can include
or consult on long-
water services material in the final plan, without re-
term planning
consulting, but:
material that
includes water
• Must include new/updated information on water services in its
services
final plan – to reflect the continuation of its responsibilities;
information –
• Must consider the views and preferences of affected and
ahead of the repeal
interested persons as it considers appropriate; and
bill being enacted
• Does not have to delay the adoption of its long-term plan past
30 June 2024 (in order to provide opportunities for public
consultation on its revised proposals).
Transitional provisions will also help ensure the risks of
future legal challenge (associated with concerns about
possible issues in process) will be minimised.
Needing more time  The statutory deadline by which the 2024 long-term plan
to develop and
must be adopted will be extended by three months – to 30
consult on long-
September 2024.
term planning
material
This flexibility may be desirable to smaller councils with fewer
resources, or those councils that would prefer to wait until the
repeal legislation is enacted before starting consultation.
The deadline for adopting the 2023/24 annual reports will also be
extended, to reflect the possible overlap in auditing processes if

If your council is… Options available
councils are taking longer than usual to finalise the long-term
plan.
Councils will be permitted to have unaudited long-term plan
consultation documents.
This would allow auditing of the final long-term plan to proceed in
tandem with consultation, to help achieve statutory deadlines.
3. Local Water Done Well – key principles of our future direction for water services
With Local Water Done Well we are going to do things in a way that recognises the
importance of local decision making and flexibility for communities and councils to determine
how their water services will be delivered in future. We will do this while ensuring a strong
emphasis on meeting rules for water quality and investment in infrastructure.
We want to enable councils and communities to determine what works best for them, while
establishing clear expectations and bottom lines.
Key principles of our future plan for the delivery of water services include:
• Introducing greater central government oversight, economic and quality regulation.
• Fit-for-purpose service delivery models and financing tools, such as improving the
current council-controlled organisation model, and developing a new class of financially
separate council-owned organisation.
• Setting rules for water services and infrastructure investment.
• Ensuring water services are financially sustainable. Financial sustainability means
revenue sufficiency, balance sheet separation, ring-fencing and funding for growth.
I intend to work with all councils on the development of our Local Water Done Well policy to
ensure it reflects your local needs and circumstances.
I look forward to working with you in the New Year to refine our approach to water services
delivery.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government

Document 3
Hon Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Energy
Minister for Auckland
Minister of Local Government
Minister of Transport
Deputy Leader of the House
Mayor Vince Cocurullo
Whangārei District Council
Email: [email address]
cc. Simon Weston
Email: [email address]
Dear Vince,
New direction for water services delivery
This morning I announced that earlier this week Cabinet agreed to repeal the previous
government’s water services legislation. I also signalled next steps for implementing our plan
for water services, Local Water Done Well.
I wish to provide you with further information about three key aspects of our plan, to ensure
you have the clarity and certainty you need as you develop your council’s 2024-34 long-term
plan and prepare for your next financial year:
1. Repeal of the previous government’s water services legislation
2. Options to help your council complete its 2024-34 long-term plan
3. Local Water Done Well – key principles of our future direction for water services.
I want to acknowledge that councils across the country are facing multiple challenges,
including pressures with water infrastructure. I also want to acknowledge that many councils
have done a good job of managing their water infrastructure, and that there is not a one size
fits all solution to moving to more financially sustainable water services.
The Government is committed to addressing the longstanding challenges this country is
facing with our water services infrastructure.
Our Local Water Done Well approach recognises the importance of local decision making
and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be
delivered in future. We will do this while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting rules for
water quality and investment in infrastructure.
1. Repealing the previous Government’s water services legislation
Cabinet has agreed to introduce a repeal bill that will restore council ownership and control
of water infrastructure and services. The bill makes the following changes:
• All legislation relating to water services entities will be repealed (Water Services
Entities Act 2022, Water Services Entities Amendment Act 2023, and Water Services
Legislation Act 2023).
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz

• Previous legislation related to the provision of water services will be reinstated
(including local government legislation). This will restore continued council ownership
and control of water services, and responsibility for service delivery.
• The Northland and Auckland Water Services Entity (the only entity that had been
legally established under the Water Services Entities Act 2022) will be disestablished
and any outstanding work on the entity’s set-up will cease.
• Councils will need to add and integrate information about water services into their
2024 long-term plans. Some transitional support options are available to assist you
(below).
The repeal bill is expected to be introduced in February 2024 and enacted as soon as
possible. I am committed to a swift parliamentary process to ensure the Northland and
Auckland entity is disestablished well in advance of its operational start date of 1 July 2024.
2. Options to help your council complete its 2024-34 long-term plan
I am aware that current legislation precludes Auckland and Northland councils from including
any water services material in your long-term planning documents.
Through the repeal bill I am seeking to rectify this as soon as possible, to ensure you are
able to plan for and finance water services, to reflect the continuation of your responsibilities.
To provide flexibility for different councils’ local circumstances and preferences, Cabinet has
agreed the repeal bill will include temporary modifications to local government legislation for
the transitional period affecting the 2024 long-term plans. Once the bill is passed, these
options will be available for councils to use, as relevant and appropriate.
If your council is…  Options available
Starting to prepare  The enacted provisions clarify that the council can include
or consult on long-
water services material in the final plan, without re-
term planning
consulting, but:
material that
includes water
• Must include new/updated information on water services in its
services
final plan – to reflect the continuation of its responsibilities;
information –
• Must consider the views and preferences of affected and
ahead of the repeal
interested persons as it considers appropriate; and
bill being enacted
• Does not have to delay the adoption of its long-term plan past
30 June 2024 (in order to provide opportunities for public
consultation on its revised proposals).
Transitional provisions will also help ensure the risks of
future legal challenge (associated with concerns about
possible issues in process) will be minimised.

If your council is…  Options available
Needing more time  The statutory deadline by which the 2024 long-term plan
to develop and
must be adopted will be extended by three months – to 30
consult on long-
September 2024.
term planning
material
This flexibility may be desirable to smaller councils with fewer
resources, or those councils that would prefer to wait until the
repeal legislation is enacted before starting consultation.
The deadline for adopting the 2023/24 annual reports will also be
extended, to reflect the possible overlap in auditing processes if
councils are taking longer than usual to finalise the long-term
plan.
Councils will be permitted to have unaudited long-term plan
consultation documents.
This would allow auditing of the final long-term plan to proceed in
tandem with consultation, to help achieve statutory deadlines.
3. Local Water Done Well – key principles of our future direction for water services
With Local Water Done Well we are going to do things in a way that recognises the
importance of local decision making and flexibility for communities and councils to determine
how their water services will be delivered in future. We will do this while ensuring a strong
emphasis on meeting rules for water quality and investment in infrastructure.
We want to enable councils and communities to determine what works best for them, while
establishing clear expectations and bottom lines.
Key principles of our future plan for the delivery of water services include:
• Introducing greater central government oversight, economic and quality regulation.
• Fit-for-purpose service delivery models and financing tools, such as improving the
current council-controlled organisation model and developing a new class of financially
separate council-owned organisation.
• Setting rules for water services and infrastructure investment.
• Ensuring water services are financially sustainable. Financial sustainability means
revenue sufficiency, balance sheet separation, ring-fencing and funding for growth.
I intend to work with all councils on the development of our Local Water Done Well policy to
ensure it reflects your local needs and circumstances.
I look forward to working with you in the New Year to refine our approach to water services
delivery.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government

Document 4
Hon Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Energy
Minister for Auckland
Minister of Local Government
Minister of Transport
Deputy Leader of the House
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst
Hastings District Council
Email: [email address]
cc. To'osavili Nigel Bickle Chief Executive
Email: [email address]
Dear Mayor Hazlehurst
New direction for water services delivery
This morning I announced that earlier this week Cabinet agreed to repeal the previous
government’s water services legislation. I also signalled next steps for implementing our plan
for water services, Local Water Done Well.
I wish to provide you with further information about three key aspects of our plan, to ensure
you have the clarity and certainty you need as you develop your council’s 2024-34 long-term
plan and prepare for your next financial year:
1. Repeal of the previous government’s water services legislation
2. Options to help your council complete its 2024-34 long-term plan
3. Local Water Done Well – key principles of our future direction for water services.
I want to acknowledge that councils across the country are facing multiple challenges,
including pressures with water infrastructure. I also want to acknowledge that many councils
have done a good job of managing their water infrastructure, and that there is not a one size
fits all solution to moving to more financially sustainable water services.
The Government is committed to addressing the longstanding challenges this country is
facing with our water services infrastructure.
Our Local Water Done Well approach recognises the importance of local decision making
and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be
delivered in future. We will do this while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting rules for
water quality and investment in infrastructure.
1. Repealing the previous Government’s water services legislation
Cabinet has agreed to introduce a repeal bill that will restore council ownership and control
of water infrastructure and services. The bill makes the following changes:
• All legislation relating to water services entities will be repealed (Water Services
Entities Act 2022, Water Services Entities Amendment Act 2023, and Water Services
Legislation Act 2023).
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz

• Previous legislation related to the provision of water services will be reinstated
(including local government legislation). This will restore continued council ownership
and control of water services, and responsibility for service delivery.
• The Northland and Auckland Water Services Entity (the only entity that had been
legally established under the Water Services Entities Act 2022) will be disestablished
and any outstanding work on the entity’s set-up will cease.
• Councils will need to add and integrate information about water services into their
2024 long-term plans. Some transitional support options are available to assist you
(below).
The repeal bill is expected to be introduced in February 2024 and enacted as soon as
possible.
2. Options to help your council complete its 2024-34 long-term plan
I have heard that councils are seeking legislative certainty for your 2024-34 long-term plan
and are seeking direction and support for how to continue to plan for and finance water
services.
I am also conscious that different councils will have different needs and preferences and will
be at various stages of developing their long-term plans.
To provide flexibility for these local circumstances, Cabinet has agreed the repeal bill will
include temporary modifications to local government legislation for the transitional period
affecting the 2024 long-term plans. Once the bill is passed, these options will be available for
councils to use, as appropriate.
I recognise a few councils are preparing an unaudited three-year plan, with a focus on
cyclone recovery, rather than a standard 10-year plan. As such, some of the proposed
modifications may be less relevant to you.
If your council is…  Options available
Starting to prepare  The enacted provisions clarify that the council can include
or consult on long-
water services material in the final plan, without re-
term planning
consulting, but:
material that
includes water
• Must include new/updated information on water services in its
services
final plan – to reflect the continuation of its responsibilities;
information –
• Must consider the views and preferences of affected and
ahead of the repeal
interested persons as it considers appropriate; and
bill being enacted
• Does not have to delay the adoption of its long-term plan past
30 June 2024 (in order to provide opportunities for public
consultation on its revised proposals).
Transitional provisions will also help ensure the risks of
future legal challenge (associated with concerns about
possible issues in process) will be minimised.

I intend to work with all councils on the development of our Local Water Done Well policy to
ensure it reflects your local needs and circumstances.
I look forward to working with you in the New Year to refine our approach to water services
delivery.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government

Document 5
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister for Energy
Minister of Local Government
Minister of Transport
Minister for Auckland
Deputy Leader of the House
20/12/2023
Campbell Barry
Chair
Wellington Water Committee
[email address]
Dear Campbell
Thank you for making time to meet with me and Taumata Arowai to discuss the provision of
water  in  the  Wellington  region,  and  recent  modelling  that  suggests  demand  may  exceed
supply in January and February 2024.
My expectation is that councils in the region will work together via Wellington Water to address
the  possible  water  shortage.  This  includes  actively  considering  how  to  fix  leakage  issues,
increasing supply, and how the short- and medium-term activity will be funded.
I would like to know what actions councils in the Wellington region are taking in the short- to
medium-term to address the water shortage, and future plans. I would welcome a response
by 31 January 2024.
Should  you  have  any  questions  please  contact  my  office,  or  Warren  Ulusele,  Partnership
Director by email at [email address] or on 021 227 8187.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand | +64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email]

Document 6

Document 7
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister for Energy
Minister of Local Government
Minister of Transport
Minister for Auckland
Deputy Leader of the House
19 January 2024
Tory Whanau
Mayor
Wellington City Council
By email: [email address]
Dear Tory
I wrote to  the chair of the Wellington Water Committee on 20 December 2023 asking what
action shareholder councils are taking in the short- to medium-term to address potential water
shortages, and future plans to protect water supplies. My letter was in response to concerns
raised  by  Taumata  Arowai  that  modelling  by  Wellington  Water  and  the  Greater  Wellington
Regional Council showed that demand will exceed supply in January and February this year.
I  understand  the  chair  of  Wellington  Water  asked  your  council  to  provide  the  required
information to him by 17 January 2024. I am disappointed that you have not met this deadline
or provided any update to my office.
Water  shortages  in  our  capital  city  will  have  significant  impacts  on  communities  and
businesses. I expect councils to take their  obligations to residents and ratepayers seriously
and implement all mitigations necessary to avoid cuts or limits on water supplies.
As  Minister  of  Local  Government,  I  have  a  range  of  options  under  Part  10  of  the  Local
Government Act in relation to local authorities. Under section 257 I can require a local authority
to provide information to me about the problem and its plans to address it.
Based on your failure to respond to the chair of the Wellington Water Committee, modelling
prepared  by  Wellington  Water,  and  ongoing  public  concerns  that  a  state  of  drinking  water
emergency  may  be  declared  this  summer  period,  I  believe  a  problem  may  exist  with  your
Council’s ability to meet its obligations regarding supply of drinking water and you are unwilling
or unable to address it.
It is on this basis that I am making a formal request for more information, under section
257 of the Local Government Act 2002.
I  require  the  following  information  to  understand  how  you  are  addressing  or  planning  to
address the problem:
• a summary of all actions taken by your council in the last ten years to prevent water
shortages,  including  investment  in  water  network  infrastructure  and  asset
management;
• a summary of all funding provided by your council in the last ten years for condition
assessments of water network infrastructure;
• detail of all depreciation accrued against your water network infrastructure versus the
level of capital investment to be outlined in the first three years of your 2024-34 Long
Term Plan;
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand | +64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email]

• a summary of all advice received by your council from Wellington Water in relation to
necessary investment levels and actions taken by your council in response to this;
• evidence your council intends to make necessary investments in the first three years
of the 2024-34 Long Term Plan in water loss management activities, and increasing
capacity and storage;
• evidence your council is committed to supporting the recommendations made at the
Wellington Water Summit in September 2023;
• any other documentation that would give me assurance your Council is taking action
to address the risk of water shortages this summer and into the future.
Please submit the information requested to my office in writing by 1 February 2024.
Under section 257(4) of the Local Government Act 2002, you must respond to this notice by
this date, unless I have agreed otherwise.
Should you have any questions about this process, or any questions regarding my decision,
please contact my office.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government
Copy to:
Barbara McKerrow
Chief Executive
Wellington City Council

Document 8
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister for Energy
Minister of Local Government
Minister of Transport
Minister for Auckland
Deputy Leader of the House
20 January 2024
Tory Whanau
Mayor
Wellington City Council
By email: [email address]
Dear Tory
Thank you for your letter of 20 January 2024.
I  appreciate  your  prompt  reply  and  the  initial  information  you  have  provided.  I  share  your
concerns about the potential for water shortages in the Wellington region and I look forward
to getting that additional information.
I agree that we should meet to discuss these matters  that have a significant impact on the
well-being of your city. I have instructed my office to arrange a time to meet as soon as our
diaries allow.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand | +64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email]