$2.5b sweetener for three waters reform

Local government leadership has broadly endorsed the approach to three waters reform. (Image: Deposit Photos)

Thu, 15 Jul 2021

The government has unveiled a $2.5 billion package of relief aimed at getting local government agreement to a radical amalgamation of drinking, waste and storm water services in a move immediately labelled a bribe by National party leader Judith Collins.The biggest holdout against the reforms and the country’s largest city, Auckland, is by far the largest beneficiary of the package, becoming eligible for just over half a billion dollars ($508.6 million).The package was announced at a packed Local Government New Zealand annual conference i...

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