Simon Watts

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.