Webb DuncanHon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs): Thank you Madam Chair. I thought it would be useful just whilst we have a chance to just say a few introductory comments on the bill. Obviously this is the last of the pieces of the puzzle to ensure that New Zealanders get safe affordable and reliable water services that support good health in a sustainable environment. The aim of this bill and the other bills is to improve New Zealand's water services system which is made up of drinking water waste water and of course stormwater. We know that up to $185 billion in infrastructure is needed over the next 30 years to address historic under-investment. The increased size and scale of these water entities is the key to attracting this level of investment and this reform will ensure that water infrastructure and services are planned maintained and delivered so that these critical services are affordable and fit for purpose. This bill establishes the Commerce Commission to oversee the economic regulation and consumer protection regime for the water entities and this will ensure that consumers directly benefit from these reforms and the delivery of affordable and high-quality water services.Before I draw the committee's attention to some of the more notable features I do want to repeat my thanks to the Finance and Expenditure Committee for its scrutiny of the bill and its considered amendments and all those people who submitted on it.The affordable water reforms brought to light issues in the water sector that are often associated with critical infrastructure systems that have natural monopoly characteristics. These include service quality not reflecting community expectations long-term under-investment in infrastructure inefficient pricing that lacked transparency and concerns about the capability of the sector to respond to consumer demands. It's important that New Zealanders receive water services that meet their expectations now and into the future. For these reasons this bill establishes an economic regulation and consumer protection regime with the Commerce Commission as regulator.This regime is an integral part of the water reforms to protect New Zealanders from the sort of harms that can occur when essential service providers have substantial market power and consumers are unable to switch providers. How the bill addresses this is that alongside Taumata Arowai's focus on water quality the economic regulation and consumer protection regime will promote the long-term interests of consumers in water services and ensure the new entities provide high-quality services at affordable prices. It will put protections in place for consumers so they can expect high-quality service when they contact the water supply with a query or complaint clear communications about network outages and transparency from their supplier about how water services are built.The Commerce Commission is a high-performing regulator with experience regulating other essential infrastructure services and ensuring consumers are treated fairly. A Water Services Commissioner will be established within the commission to reflect the unique nature of the water sector and the vital importance of water guided by the fundamental principle of Te Mana o te Wai. The scope of the Consumer Advocacy Council will also be broadened so that it can advocate on behalf of water consumers and an independent consumer dispute resolution service will be established to resolve disputes between consumers. I look forward to answering any members' questions.