1. Question No. 1—Local GovernmentRYAN HAMILTON (National—Hamilton East) to the Minister of Local GovernmentORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Local Government1. RYAN HAMILTON (National—Hamilton East) to the Minister of Local Government: What recent announcements has he made on Local Water Done Well?Hon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Local Government): This morning my colleague the Hon Andrew Bayly and I shared great news for ratepayers and local government announcing the enduring components of water service delivery under our Government's fantastic Local Water Done Well plan. This is about providing local government with the certainty it needs to deliver the water services Kiwis rely on while minimising costs for ratepayers. Members on the other side said that Local Water Done Well could not be done but after just nine months we've delivered for communities across our country.Ryan Hamilton: What are these enduring components of Local Water Done Well?Hon SIMEON BROWN: The enduring components of Local Water Done Well announced today will enable new models for financially sustainable water organisations across the country and financing from the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency for water organisations which will reduce the financial burden on ratepayers who were faced with higher rates under three waters.Ryan Hamilton: What does this mean for councils across the country?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Councils will be pleased with today's announcement. The New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency provides the lowest cost financing that is available to local government. And from today it will be able to support leverage for water council-controlled organisations (CCOs) up to a level equivalent of 500 percent of revenue—around twice that of existing financing levels for councils subject to water organisations meeting prudent credit criteria. This would not have happened under the co-governed mega-entity three waters model. Our plan restores local ownership it restores local control of water assets and it recognises the importance of local decision-making. Ryan Hamilton: What impact will this have on ratepayers?Hon Dr Duncan Webb: Point of order Mr Speaker. I've been sitting here listening to the supplementary questions and they simply don't relate to any announcements that the Minister has made. Yesterday you upbraided a member of the Opposition for supplementaries not relating to the primary. Now if the member has questions about other announcements that would be within scope but this would seem to be without.SPEAKER: There was only one supplementary—probably the last one—and the question that's just been asked is most certainly relating to this. The question was about the effect on ratepayers.Hon Dr Duncan Webb: No the question was about announcements.SPEAKER: Well OK. I'll do what I did yesterday and give the member the opportunity to ask it with a slightly different focus.Ryan Hamilton: What impact will this announcement—that being Local Water Done Well—have on ratepayers?SPEAKER: Well yeah I see the point. Have a think about it and maybe move on to another question. The Minister can't really reflect on how ratepayers feel about the announcement. The effect of the announcement might be a different matter. So I'm sorry if we're getting all pedantic about the words which we appear to be then we need to think about that.Ryan Hamilton: Thank you Mr Speaker. What will be the financial implications of this announcement?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Today's announcement is great news for ratepayers. Local Water Done Well will provide lower costs to New Zealand councils for financing than could have been achieved under the previous Government's three waters reform which we swiftly repealed to restore local control of water assets to communities. It will do this with the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency being able to immediately lend to water CCOs. This financing is available as of today and means that communities will have the flexibility and the tools they need to meet their unique needs.Lan Pham: Did the Minister include in his announcement that out of the only 182 submissions who were able to submit as part of the truncated 10-day deadline only 19 explicitly supported the bill 18 percent of councils missed out on even having their voice heard; and of those who did all of them submitted that the cost and resource implications are both unclear and significant for councils making it challenging to plan or fund the reforms"?SPEAKER: Just if we're getting all pedantic about what goes into questions I'd suggest that members look at Standing Order 390. Much of what was just said would not comply with that Standing Order. But it has to be said to make the question reasonable and I think that's the judgment that has to be made here.Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well the member's discussing the bill which was before the House which relates to water service delivery plans. The announcement made today is about the financing models which are now available for councils to be able to invest sustainably into their water services and actually make it happen and get things done. So that's what this Government has done with Local Water Done Well. We've got a plan we've got the financing and now it's up to councils to take the leadership to ensure that they can deliver for their local communities. What we campaigned on we're delivering."