We saw a small item in a news article and thought it was strange - so we did an OIA - and the reply is also very strange.

We saw a small piece in a news article that a consulting firm called Martin Jenkins had been working with Councils to prepare their documents to submit to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) about Local Water Done Well.

We thought it was strange for a spokesperson for Martin Jenkins to be saying that the Taranaki region was one of the regions of NZ who had already submitted their plan to the DIA.

We saw this in June.

Verbal Submissions weren’t due to NPDC until 1^st July – we presented on that day to the NPDC .

So we sent an OIA to the DIA. (Way too many acronyms in this game).

In a short version what we asked was:

• Can you please confirm if you have received a Local Water Done Well Future Structure plan, or plans, from the Taranaki Region.
• If you have received a structure plan from any Councils in the Taranaki Region, can you please advise what date this was lodged with the DIA

We got fobbed off for a couple of days – but then the OIA got accepted.

On day 19 (they have 20 days) – we got an answer – and it’s really weird. A quote from the reply:

“The Department has not received a draft water services delivery plan from councils in the Taranaki region for review at this time. The Department has not received draft plans from Stratford, South Taranaki or New Plymouth Councils within the Taranaki region either individually or combined (two or more councils). However, a draft plan for the region is found on the New Plymouth District Council website linked here for reference:
www.npdc.govt.nz/media/0j2n5pb2/water-services-delivery-plan-joint-taranaki-wscco.pdf. “

We just asked if the Department of Internal Affairs had a plan for our region.

Why would a very busy, very big Government Department, based in Wellington, know that somewhere buried on the NPDC website is a copy of a CCO document ? That seems very strange.

And if we do a search, as a lay person not knowing this document exists, we don’t find anything ? The document for a joint Taranaki CCO does not jump out at you in a search.

Yet the large, DIA government department, just happening to process an OIA in Wellington, knows where to find that document ?

So we looked at the document – the link above – and the 38 pages that go with it.

It’s a plan for a combined 3 region CCO.

Just one plan – a 3 region combined CCO. And this one plan is a “rubber stamp” document mostly just waiting for 3 stamps and 3 signatures from each Council.

• Yes – we hear you in the background – they already knew what they wanted – and they just do what they want – we know – we hear you.

But this presents an official document and an official response that shows somehow it’s all just very odd.

• And with true democracy – it just should not be that way.
• There’s a difference between saying, or suspecting, but then seeing this is happening and actually seeing documents that show this - is all very strange.

Somehow the DIA knows the NPDC has just prepared this one plan – which is due fairly soon - to be delivered as the final document to the DIA.

The DIA happens to know this before submissions have even been finalised in New Plymouth (the NPDC meeting is not until 22^nd July).

Like we say – it’s a all a bit weird – or the process isn’t at arm’s length between local and central government agencies – and it should be.

Obvious questions for us as Ratepayers and Renters who took time to do submissions and hoped someone would listen and select the option we chose:

• Where is the “rubber stamp” version to keep it “in house” – in case that came first with the submissions ?
• Or the “rubber stamp” version for just the "New Plymouth CCO" – in case that came first in submissions ?

Why does the DIA know there is only a “3 region version” that is ready for the “rubber stamp” ?

One consolation in all of this is we know the people of Stratford have been heard, and Stratford is not participating in a 3 region CCO.

So the “rubber stamp” 3 region document has been foiled –and thank you to the people, and Council, of Stratford for that.

The NPDC is meeting on 22^nd July to make a decision on Local Water Done Well and what option they will submit to the Government.

Wonder if they have a back up plan with a “rubber stamp” – or perhaps they are scrambling around to fix that.

Wonder what it will now cost to have to write a second “actual” plan to be submitted – wonder if we are paying twice for that to happen a second time.

And we wonder what the odds are that the NPDC may actually listen to the Ratepayers and Renters of New Plymouth and deliver an inhouse model which is what the majority of submissions on Local Water Done Well have asked for.

We will watch the meeting on 22^nd of July with interest to see the decision, when the majority of people used their voice and asked for an inhouse model.

We’ll keep you posted.