Running down the clock on three waters

An uneasy meeting of minds? Nanaia Mahuta and Wayne Brown discussing three waters reform last month. (Image: NZME)

Fri, 04 Nov 2022

For as long as the government has been pursuing its three waters reforms, there has been confident speculation that it would end up either abandoning or radically softening the policy. Yet, at every potential turning point – until this week – the government has dug in. Local government minister Nanaia Mahuta has appeared largely impervious to the many sources of opposition that have coalesced to make the worthy goal of upgrading New Zealand’s creaky water infrastructure one of the biggest political headaches the gove...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

The Quiz Free

QuiznessDesk, Monday, Oct 20

Can you get them all correct without cheating?

The Quizmaster 9:15am

Finance

Canva cash and human capital sprinkling Kiwi startups

Canva alumni turn $73b valuation and liquidity event into backing for NZ founders.

Garth Bray 5:00am

Canva cash and human capital sprinkling Kiwi startups

Opinion

Maria Slade: A brush with Auckland’s unseemly side

Firms fear the city’s flagging reputation will deter much-anticipated extra traffic.

Maria Slade 5:00am

Sponsored

Focus on safety of SME vehicle fleets

Vehicle glass repairer’s work enhances road safety.

Smith & Smith

Sponsored

NZ stakes claim in data future

Hosting data onshore with Snowflake boost trusts, speed and sovereignty.

Snowflake

More Infrastructure

Policy

Asset recycling: privatisation or better housekeeping

On asset recycling, Silvana Schenone cites Marie Kondo rather than Milton Friedman.

Dileepa Fonseka 5:00am

Infrastructure

New directors appointed to NZ infrastructure boards

New directors have been appointed to the boards of Crown Infrastructure Delivery (CID), National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFFCo), and the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission.Infrastructure Minister, Chris Bishop, highlighted the expertise the new and reappointed d...

BD AI 16 Oct 2025

Infrastructure

'Meth' ministry moves: staffing data sought for four-way merger

Work is progressing on a four-ministry merger with the pejorative nickname ‘Meth’.

Dileepa Fonseka 14 Oct 2025

Infrastructure

Aratere sold for scrap, price deemed commercially sensitive

The Aratere ferry has been sold to a specialist recycling shipyard in India for an undisclosed amount.“Details of the sale price are commercially sensitive,” Duncan Roy, executive general manager of Interislander, said. The ferry was retired last August to make way for the port...

Rebecca Howard 10 Oct 2025

Running down the clock on three waters

More Infrastructure

Your company has a subscription

Team