IAWAI Water Services Strategy

Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Kawhia te Moana
Ko Otumatariki, Pirongia, Karioi, Mangatautari, Te Aroha me Taupiri nga Maunga
Ko Waipa me Waikato nga Awa
Ko Ngati Hanui me Waikato nga Iwi
Ko Ngati Ngamurikaitaua toku Hapu
Ko Te kopa King Toku ingoa.
Tena koutou IAWAI, HCC, WDC and WT representatives.
From 2024 to now 2026, I have to say I am not mad; I am disappointed with the way in which transparency has been handled when it comes to engaging with local communities and Tangata whenua. Seeing our culture institutionalized by some of your employees who have promoted the agenda since 2022/2024 is quite disturbing, as it's being used to undermine tangata whenua, and then expecting all of us to pay extra for it is the irony. What I haven't seen is inclusiveness in regards to consultation and decision-making. In other words, equity and equality. Equity and equality are not just for our voices to be seen and heard, but when we deliver a Tangata Whenua cultural and environmental assessment, you take it seriously because we live with it. But when you don't take that seriously or into consideration, you leave us with another rate increase to accommodate the prejudiced behavior and nepotism coming from your entities. Nobody wants that, and none of us did anything to any of you to deserve that!
Within the past week or two, Mayor Macindoe delivered a strategy to decrease fees and charges, which isn't a bad thing; it is good. And with the water services having its own account with 3 parties involved, HCC, WDC, and WT, I have to say this doesn't change a lot or anything; in fact, when I looked at what IAWAI is proposing, it is an increase in water rates, but that's because the mayor is decreasing fees and charges. So at the end of the day, nothing's changed. While we all make an effort to understand where you're coming from and work as hard as any of you to make ends meet by moving a muscle, IAWAI goes and adds an increase to our rates as if none of us are paying rates at all. We deserve better, especially after the KPMG report was reviewed in February this year and a call for financial discipline was raised in the HCC chambers. IAWAI needs to find the bar raised and do better!
- Deputy Mayor Geoff Taylor said he was concerned, disappointed, and disturbed that the audit was not provided to all elected members under the previous council.
As some of us are aware, some of the previous council is on the IAWAI Forum. And if that doesn't raise any red flags for anyone or any of you, then how do we know we can trust you with our WAI and what we're paying extra for?

No

You're already charging us extra for water services, or was that supposed to be a big secret? If you want growth and need money to pay for it, IAWAI or HCC and WDC need to find funding from the central government and stop taking from our people and communities. We're not experiments you can suck the life and energy out of!

No

I think you need to stop targeting the elderly, granny flats, and minor dwellings. Our people need homes they aren't trying to escape from!

Website, E-newsletter, Surveys, Hui, Marae forum, Events (online or in person), email

'The proposed policy generally aligns with existing Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council significance and engagement policies but has been updated to reflect IAWAI’s role under the Act. It introduces new legal requirements, including identifying and reporting on significant contracts, and clarifies when IAWAI, Hamilton City Council, or Waikato District Council will lead engagement.
It also notes that consultation is not legally required for IAWAI’s annual water services budget, even where it differs from the Water Services Strategy, or when entering certain unplanned public–private partnership development agreements.'
I can't answer question number 4 at the moment.
I think IAWAI employees need to take a good look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves if they're good people and in this for the people they're delivering water services to, who are paying the rates between HCC district and WDC district.
Doing the right thing matters and is merit-making, and if you're not in it for reasons pertaining to morals, values, and principles that are also included in the Kiingitanga accord, then maybe whoever is confused needs to reconsider their career path.

Partially support

I think it's a policy that is normal to have but in saying that it wouldnt change anything.

No, these are my own personal views