Appendix A.pdf

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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
Dame Kerry Prendergast
Chair, Advisory Oversight Group
Wellington region and Horowhenua water services delivery plan
[email address]
Dear Dame Kerry,
Thank you for your letter dated 10 May 2024 on behalf of the ten councils in the Wellington
regional area and Horowhenua District Council.
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I am writing to formally acknowledge receipt of your letter and am responding on behalf of
the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Christopher Luxon, and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure
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and Member for Hutt South, Hon Chris Bishop.
I warmly welcome the positive progress and intentions that you have shared with me,
including the formal steps being taken by the ten councils to work together on a joint water
services delivery plan. I’m enthused by your collective efforts to demonstrate Local Water
Done Well in action and work towards a joint delivery model that is able to address the long-
term funding and delivery requirements for the half million people across the greater region.
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I’m also heartened by the steps you have taken to create effective governance and delivery
structures, and your commitment to working with urgency to address the needs of your
region.
The development of a joint water services delivery plan for the greater Wellington region will
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provide an assessment of your water infrastructure, how much you need to invest, and how
you plan to finance and deliver it through your preferred service delivery model.
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Importantly, the plans will be a way for councils to provide transparency to their communities
about the costs and financing of water services. The plans will empower councils to make
decisions about managing and delivering high-quality water services that reflect local needs
and circumstances.   under
I understand officials are already engaging with members of your project team, and I have
directed that they support you to ensure your work remains aligned with the Government’s
policy decisions and legislation.
Under Local Water Done Well, the Government will be providing councils with a range of
financing and funding tools. The tools will ensure councils have the appropriate finance in
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place and will be able to access long-term debt required for investment in water services
infrastructure, while ensuring a fair price for consumers. I know that this is critical for the
greater Wellington region and I have directed officials to collaborate effectively with you on
these matters.
I appreciate your proactive engagement in these matters, and I anticipate this is just the first
of several communications and discussions we will be having with the greater Wellington
region councils. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you soon, where we can
discuss your approach in person and in more detail.
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz

Thank you again for writing.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Local Government
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Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 New Zealand
+64 4 817 6804 | [Simeon Brown request email] | www.beehive.govt.nz

Document 3
4 October 2024
Hon Simeon Brown, Minister of Local Government
Parliament Buildings, Wel ington. By email.
Tēnā koe Minister,
Today the nine councils within the Wel ington regional area, and Horowhenua District Council,
reached an important milestone and will receive a col ective report on how we can best work
together  as a region to respond to Local Water Done Wel .  This is the outcome of strong
col aboration and leadership across the region.
The report will recommend the establishment of a jointly owned water services council-owned
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company (WSCCO). This is for a full-breadth water utility vested with ownership of al  regional
water assets, revenues and liabilities.  This is wel  aligned with your recent policy announcements
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and also the direction of Government’s third water reform bill scheduled for tabling in December.
The report outlines the scale of the chal enge, including the poor state of much of our water
network and the need to ensure we can enable growth.
We have continued to reﬁne and test the level of investment required.  This wil  be substantial and
is estimated at about $15 billion- $17 bil ion over the coming 20-25 years.
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These estimates are being peer reviewed and will continue to be reﬁned as we develop a Water
Services Delivery Plan based on more robust bottom up analysis of the investment needed.
To ensure that this is affordable, we will continue to explore how the region and future WSCCO
can leverage long-term ﬁnancing through the LGFA which will be required to smooth and balance
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cost increases over time.
During October and November each of our councils will conﬁrm their approach to Local Water
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Done Wel  and whether they remain part  of  this regional model.  There remains a strong
commitment to continue to work together and with your officials to ensure that we can deliver a
ﬁnancial y sustainable pathway for our water services.
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We wil  also be providing a copy of the report to your officials today and it will be made public on
Monday 7 October.
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Dame Kerry Prendergast
Chair of the Advisory Oversight Group

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