Carter John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Carter John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:640;Page:10470] 
11.  
JOHN CARTER (National—Northland) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Does he agree with the president of Local Government New Zealand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to local government issues in New Zealand? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 Indeed I do. That is why this Government is engaged in an ongoing and consultative working relationship with local government in stark contrast to the icy relationship between the Beehive and local government during the 1990s. Our relationship is I think epitomised by the Central / Local Government Forum which was jointly initiated and is co-chaired by Prime Minister Helen Clark and the president of Local Government New Zealand. This Government is committed to maintaining and building that strong working relationship. 
John Carter 
: What advice has the Minister given to the Minister of Health regarding the inability of smaller rural and provincial councils to pay for the Labour Government’s one-size-fits-all approach to drinking-water standards; and what advice has he given to the Minister of Health regarding the statement of the president of Local Government New Zealand that the proposed drinking-water legislation is unnecessary and unjust? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: There is no need for me to give advice to the Minister of Health because flexibility is provided for in the bill relating to drinking-water standards. It requires that councils take a responsible attitude. But I say to the member that it is just not good enough for the cloud-jumper 
to go to Dunedin and make a speech suggesting it is acceptable for people in small communities to have substandard water supplies. He would not accept that for his family in Auckland. 
John Carter 
: What is the Minister’s reaction to research by Local Government New Zealand that shows councils are increasingly concerned that they do not have the resources or the funding to undertake all the functions devolved to them by this Labour Government? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: The member may be aware—I would have thought he would be given the portfolio he carries as an Opposition spokesperson—that there has been a rate and funding review. That panel is due to report to me shortly and that information will be of central importance to future funding arrangements. The member and his leader trot around the country suggesting that a lot of legislation—the quote is usually between 60 and 67 pieces of legislation—is being imposed on local government bodies without any assistance being given which puts costs on them. But if we analyse the list the member puts forward we see that 28 pieces of legislation were specifically asked for by local government and 26 of them have absolutely no cost attached to them. The facts I say to Mr Carter should occasionally get in the way of his statements. 
John Carter 
: In view of that answer what is the Minister’s reaction to the statement made by the Hamilton City Council—not me—that it has identified 60 pieces of legislation that impose compliance costs on local government without adequate resourcing and cost recovery tools? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I would need the council to provide me with its evidence; I could not rely on it to come from over there. But I would say to the council that New Zealand ratepayers and residents of Hamilton City expect First World standards. They expect the conditions water supplies waste water disposal and regulation of a First World community. That is a fact of life I tell Mr Carter. They will not tolerate lesser conditions and they ultimately expect to pay for fair services.