Nats in Gisborne tomorrow to discuss water reforms

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

National Party MP and spokesman on water and the environment Scott Simpson is in Gisborne tomorrow and is keen to hear local views on water reforms and the environment.

National released its Local Water Done Well policy recently which will replace Labour’s policy if National is elected in October.

The meeting is at the Forces Café in Childers Road and starts at 1.30pm.

East Coast National candidate Dana Kirkpatrick said it was a timely discussion to have with the Gisborne community.

“National wants water infrastructure to stay in the ownership of the people who have already paid for it and for it to be looked after by the people democratically elected by their community.

“Who is best to decide what the community needs? It is the people you elected in your local area and if we do that with some clear expectation on water quality and sustainable timely investment in infrastructure maintenance and development, that has to be a good outcome for local people.”

Gisborne city had suffered badly in the last cyclone due to damaged water infrastructure.

It had experienced firsthand the disruption that came when nature dealt a hefty blow to essential services.

“We know better than anyone that we need good infrastructure and we do not want to be competing for attention with our neighbours,” Ms Kirkpatrick said.

“Under the 10 entities proposed in the water reform, there will be more bureaucracy and more cost. Ten entities and operations will always cost more. The duplication continues and more money will be wasted — an increasingly obvious talent of the Labour Government.

Tomorrow’s meeting will also include discussion of environmental issues facing the region, highlighted as the region faces the ongoing recovery from the devastating effects of Cyclones Gabrielle and Hale.

National’s spokesman for cyclone recovery Chris Penk will be in Gisborne on Monday to look at this in more detail.