Simon Watts

Go-it-alone councils brace for ministerial intervention in water services

Local Government Minister Simon Watts has sent cautionary notes to six smaller councils that are proposing to deliver their drinking water and wastewater services on their own, rather than teaming up with neighbouring local authorities The post Go-it-alone councils brace for ministerial intervention in water services appeared first on Newsroom .

Market should decide who secures dwindling supply of gas, says Energy Minister

Simon Watts says the decision on when Methanex and Ballance exit the market for gas is “a decision for those entities, not for government”.

Energy Minister believes surgical intervention could fix power market

But the Government won’t be throwing the entire market out and starting again, Simon Watts says.

Councillors tired of being ‘beaten up’ and blamed by central government

‘Crippling’ bills likely in South Wairarapa with water reform

South Wairarapa Deputy Mayor Melissa Sadler-Futter says the government needs to step up and offer more support for smaller councils to undergo water reform. Water reform will "cripple" South Wairarapa ratepayers, unless urgent financial support is delivered by central government, the council's deputy mayor says.