Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Thank you very much Madam Speaker. Last Friday the Hon Grant Robertson and the Hon Nanaia Mahuta announced the next steps of their three waters reform and I like many was hoping that this Government would read the writing on the wall and see the opposition from our local communities and potentially listen and announce some fundamental changes—better yet a rethink of the entire policy. But the announcements that we heard from this Government came up with nothing in regards to the concerns that have been raised by our local communities across this country. These reforms are spin and this Labour Government is absolutely expert at doing that. That is what they do best. They obviously haven't got the message so today I want to explain about National and our local communities and why we oppose these reforms and outline importantly what we see as the real alternative solutions to Labour's broken reform agenda. National has never denied the challenges we face nor have we ever said that reform is not required in this area. The case for reform is clear; the case for Labour's mega entities is not. Since becoming the National Party's spokesman for local government I've travelled up and down this country talking to mayors and local councils because that's where building effective relationships and solutions starts. But in their quest for more Wellington bureaucracy this Labour Government has forgotten the importance of involving local communities. Every mayor and councillor I talk to highlights to me the variety of issues that they face. They all have unique challenges but they also share an ambition to deliver the improvements for their local communities that they need: local perspectives and local commitments. A mega entity created by this Labour Government will never match that. Gaining a local perspective also highlights the importance that everything is not broken and for many communities their water infrastructure is actually a point of pride within their communities and that should be respected. They have nothing to gain from throwing everything out and starting again. This is what this Government is forcing them to do and they already are meeting their community's needs. Of course there are many communities around this country that have needs and requirements. They've paid for their water infrastructure over generations but the problem that they've got is that the best water outcomes and management of those outcomes comes from community involvement and community ownership. That is a bottom line for me. The Government's response to this outcry from communities is to offer them token ownership around this in the share of an asset or one share in an asset for every 50000 people. Yesterday the Minister told us in Entity A Auckland would hold 35 of their 40 shares and the other councils of north of Auckland would share the remaining five. That is not fair and I cannot understand why this Minister can stand in this House and say that local communities' voices are protected because they are not. And it will come as no surprise for those that are listening that every council north of Auckland is opposed to these reforms and Auckland will not have a bar of it. So that sends a very clear signal that they are going to be worse off under this reform process. The only real power that those shares will provide those councils is around privatisation. None of the major parties in this House have expressed any interest in going down that route. So what is it? It is ownership in name only and nothing else. And it's like saying you'll own a house but you don't have keys to the front door and that is the reality for many of our local communities. The greatest tragedy out there is there is a better way forward. For anyone at home that thinks it's Labour's way or nothing I encourage them to read this document. It's a document prepared by the Communities 4 Local Democracy representing 31 councils across this country—nearly half of the community councils across this country—communities that have come together acknowledged they've got problems but brought in a solution together right here proposed models that will address the issues that are being raised and solve those problems. Labour may not be listening but I am and I thank these councils for their work in this. A National-led Government will bring positive reform and change to water management and environmental protection. My message to local communities is simple: National hears your voice and we have your back.