An infrastructure boss is warning the establishment of new water entities risks creating corporate-heavy bureaucracies that still fail to deliver essential infrastructure.
From July 1, nearly three-quarters of the country’s population will have their water services being delivered by Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs), many of which will be shared across councils.
Examples include Tiaki Wai in Wellington and Waikato Waters, an organisation owned by seven different councils.
The Commerce Commission recently announced new requirements for these entities to publish detailed data on revenue, expenditure, and long-term infrastructure maintenance plans.
Raveen Jaduram is the former CEO of Auckland's Watercare - the model for these water organisations - and he is now chair of both the Infrastructure Commission and the water regulator, Taumata Arowai.
He tells Kathryn about his concerns the new water entities could be top heavy with highly paid executives and directors while still struggling to deliver water services well.
