11. Question No. 11—Local GovernmentHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister of Local GovernmentQuestion No. 11—Local Government11. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister of Local Government: Has he seen the recent report from the Helen Clark Foundation on sponge cities and if so has he sought advice about encouraging water-sensitive urban design and sponge cities as part of the three waters reforms?Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Minister of Local Government): Yes I have. I have it here. But I only became aware of it because of the member's question so I appreciate her submitting that. I have not sought advice on this however because it is our view that the reforms do allow for such proposals to be considered by water entities. Specifically sections 12 and 14 of the Water Services Entities Act set out the objectives and operating principles of the new water services entities. These include clear requirements for the entities to protect and promote the environment to support and enable our response to climate change and to have regard in the delivery of water services to green water infrastructure and water sensitive design.Hon Eugenie Sage: What role if any does he consider that nature-based stormwater solutions such as more green space and urban wetlands in cities and towns have in responding to a changing climate and more extreme storm events?Hon KIERAN McANULTY: Well the report itself from what I've seen makes for interesting reading. And from the conversations that I've had with those within the local government sector already this is something that is on their radar. But the priorities that the entities will follow are set by the regional representative groups of which local government each have a seat on there. It'll be through that venue that local government can highlight the best approaches for their own respective communities.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does he consider that green roofs on-site rainwater storage rain gardens and more urban trees would help reduce stormwater volumes and improve stormwater management; if so what action can water services entities take to encourage more use of water-sensitive urban design?Hon KIERAN McANULTY: Well I'm certainly not an expert in these things but those that will be running the operational aspects of water entities will be. And so if they deem these examples that the member has provided as an appropriate approach to stormwater in the respective communities I'm certain they'll pursue them.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does he agree with Dr Yu Kongjiang the initiator of the sponge cities concept in China that and I quote We need a paradigm shift in planning and designing our cities to adapt to the changing climate." and if so what measures will he promote through the three waters work programme to achieve this shift?Hon KIERAN McANULTY: One of the rationales behind the water reforms is to ensure that local voice and local priorities are at the heart of the decisions made by water entities. We've tried to ensure that central government direction of those entities is limited as much as possible so that the priorities of the respective communities within those entities would be reflected. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to express my opinion or indicate any potential direction because that wouldn't be my intention."