12. Question No. 12—Local GovernmentSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore) to the Minister of Local GovernmentQuestion No. 12—Local Government12. SIMON WATTS (National—North Shore) to the Minister of Local Government: How many if any parks and reserves that link to the storm water network will be transferred to the proposed water services entities as part of the Government's three waters reforms and what consultation if any was undertaken about the potential for those assets to be transferred?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government): To the first part of the question the public can be assured that where the primary purpose of land is a park it will remain a park and it will remain in council ownership. For the purposes of the water reform and the Water Services Entities Bill parts of the stormwater network which will not transfer include rural land drainage schemes road and rail corridors regional council river and flood management functions and private stormwater network infrastructure.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order. The first part of that question was what will be transferred and the Minister only addressed what would not. Now there is an obligation to answer that and it hasn't been met.Dr Duncan Webb: Speaking to the point of order. Well the answer was that parts will not be transferred—it was clearly addressed.SPEAKER: Yeah. The question is how many" and from my hearing of the answer the Minister is saying "none". I'll ask the Minister to confirm—that was my understanding.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: To be clear Mr Speaker and to the member asking the question to the first part of the question: the public can be assured that where the primary purpose of land is as a park it will remain a park and will remain in council ownership.Hon Members: That doesn't answer the question at all.SPEAKER: It definitely addresses the question. Have you got a supplementary?Simon Watts: If no parks are being transferred why during select committee did officials specifically identify Waitangi Park in Wellington as an asset that could be transferred?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I'm glad the member has raised the issue of Waitangi Park. Waitangi Park is an excellent example of the principles of Te Mana o te Wai in action. Its environmentally sustainable design implements water-sensitive urban design for harvesting and treating stormwater while also delivering recreational benefits to the people of Wellington. Under the water reforms and the guiding principles of Te Mana o te Wai I know that many more communities will see projects like this occur over the country. As referred to in your primary question the answer in relation to Waitangi Park is that the mechanism—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well what is it?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Well let me answer. The mechanism for actual transfer of the land and other assets should the council agree will be in the next water services entity bill and I'm pleased the councils are already engaging on such matters.Simon Watts: Will she categorically rule out the transfer of any local parks or reserves to one of the Government's mega-entities and if not why not?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Councils have the ability to work with water establishment entities to decide which assets and land will transfer and as a result the public will be notified. This will be done with councils not against them and it's important to ensure that if the primary purpose for the use of land is as a park it will remain a park and the public can still utilise that park.Simon Watts: If no public parks are being transferred why has the Water Services Entities Bill's definition of stormwater assets been expanded to now explicitly include—and I quote—"green stormwater infrastructure and overland flow paths"?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: That definition continues to improve clarity around the primary purpose of land use. Let me be very clear: that's why it's very important for the House and members of the public to understand that those land uses albeit maybe for stormwater purposes such as rural land drainage schemes road and rail corridors regional council river and flood management functions and private stormwater network infrastructure—they will not transfer. And if the primary purpose of land is for a park it will remain a park. It will only be because councils want that land to transfer that that transfer will take place. Under no other circumstance will that happen. Simon Watts: Supplementary.SPEAKER: There's none left sorry."