She said the national transition unit was working to set up establishment entities that would in turn become the water services entities A, B, C and D across New Zealand from July 1 2024. Their “head offices and other business locations” would be established “well before then”.
Shotter said the number of people working for Entity A’s head office would be addressed by the middle of next year when detailed organisational design was expected.
“The priority will be ensuring appropriate people are employed in the range of roles required to meet the reform’s objectives of ensuring affordable and sustainable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services,” Shotter said.
Entity A staff servicing Northland would be based at its head office and elsewhere. Central functions such as senior management and core IT capability would be based at the head office, but some entity staff would potentially be working from other locations including a central hub, satellite office or home.
“There will be some roles that can work effectively from anywhere ... and we expect the water services entities’ policies and practices to support flexible working,” Shotter said.
She said the overall number of people directly employed in Three Waters services would be similar or slightly less than would be the case without the Three Waters reform.
Increased investment in Three Waters asset maintenance and replacement would create up to 210 full time equivalent jobs across Northland’s wider economy over the next 30 years. There would be more boosts on the ground in local communities, with more staff working to maintain and improve services, she said.
Northland council employees other than senior managers and who primarily delivered or supported water services would be guaranteed a role with the region’s new water services entity under legislated job guarantee.
Any location change for staff covered by the legislated job guarantee would need to be in substantially the same locality and within a reasonable commuting distance, she said.
