Green MP accuses govt of water privatisation agenda

The Government says it has no plans to privatise water but is not ruling out local councils doing that.

Green MP Russel Norman pressed Deputy Prime Minister Bill English in Parliament this afternoon to pledge Auckland's water services would not be privatised.

"Privatisation of council water services is not being considered by the Government in Auckland or anywhere else," Mr English said.

Dr Norman asked for an assurance that water would not be privatised as part of restructuring of local government in Auckland.

Mr English said it would not. However, he said it was possible councils would take that route.

"In the end like any other local body in New Zealand the decisions about local body assets are made by the elected representatives of the people who live in that local body area."

Dr Norman said privatisation would only be possible if the Government removed protections in the Local Government Act.

Mr English said the Act did not do exactly what Dr Norman said it did. He said some councils had water services delivered under concession (under contract) and the law put limits on how long for.

-NZPA