Mahuta NanaiaHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government): I thank the members for such vigorous questions at this time of the morning on this particular bill and I want to go through some of the core elements of the questions that have been asked.Firstly in relation to Mr Watts' Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 283 and his amendments to clause 4 we stand by the inclusion of a broad definition of water in relation to Te Mana o te Wai and outlined in the Government SOP to ensure water service entities will have to work with mana whenua to protect water and water bodies. The definition is holistic and creates a stewardship set of responsibilities for the way that water is used and cared for. In other words the health and wellbeing of waterways sits at the heart of why Te Mana o te Wai has been recognised and why the water reform approach in this bill has been proposed in the way that it has.Coming to Barbara Edmonds' particular question what we've done is draw on existing convention in relation to Te Mana o te Wai which was established in 2014 and which is accommodated for in the Resource Management Act. What I have in my SOP is the legislative clarity that was sought at the Finance and Expenditure Committee through submitters and for the purposes of applying this Act how it will be integrated and implemented within water service delivery. What that will mean if we think about the inclusion of coasts estuaries lagoons and puna which is the broadest set of definitions is that water services like waste water and stormwater which commonly discharge into coastal areas harbours or estuaries will actually be included in the way in which we improve environmental outcomes.Coastal areas are places where iwi have really strong interests but not just iwi alone; it's a recreational place for many New Zealanders and there are lots of connections that many of us across this House have in order to ensure that we can go to our favourite beach and swim there without a no-swim notice. Let's go to an example: Wairoa perhaps is a really good example. The wastewater plant there has breached resource consent requirements for years now and discharges directly into the coastal part of the river mouth. Local iwi have lived there continuously for many generations. People who live there now preserve that way of life to ensure that the coastal area is clean that the beaches are able to be swum in and so what we have is an opportunity by integrating Te Mana o te Wai concepts to ensure that discharge to coastal areas does no more harm to the environment because as we protect source water as we use it for whatever purpose and then discharge through wastewater treatment plants or as we better regulate stormwater we can guarantee our communities of a quality of life.But let me come again to a particular example. In Simon Watts' area in Auckland what we have is that there are 18 wastewater treatment plants provided by councils. Of these plants seven plants discharge to freshwater and eight discharge to the ocean. In 2019 three of Auckland's wastewater treatment plants were operating on expired consents with a further eight due to expire in 2029. So if ever there was a reason to ensure that we took a holistic approach to the way in which water service is delivered but also discharging back into our environment like the coast our estuaries—Hon Members: Beaches.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: —our beaches; that's right—we have to have a holistic system. That's why Te Mana o te Wai is there.Now Mr Brown and Mr Mooney asked about the Treaty of Waitangi in clause 4. What we have there is a reference that is consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 which is legally certain which is articulated in case law and actually on that side of the House has been accepted by many a National Minister especially when it comes to Treaty settlements. But if you look down into clause 5 what you have is a clear articulation of how the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi relate to elements of this Act and it is set out clause by clause no more no less. The intent is clear. The way in which the Treaty provisions apply is articulated in clause 5—no more no less—but it does enable the Crown to uphold its obligation in terms of Treaty settlements which both sides of this House are committed to. It does enable a partnership approach which has already been expressed through Treaty settlements and relevant at local government level to be integrated into this particular model of reform.