ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Watercare CEO defends secret $20 million deal with Waikato iwi

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 Sep 2024, 7:04pm
Watercare agreed additional payments of $20m related to its water take from the Waikato River, without the knowledge of ratepayers. Photo / Ben Plummer
Watercare agreed additional payments of $20m related to its water take from the Waikato River, without the knowledge of ratepayers. Photo / Ben Plummer

Watercare CEO defends secret $20 million deal with Waikato iwi

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 Sep 2024, 7:04pm

Watercare is under fire for keeping a $20 million deal with Waikato-Tainui under wraps.

It's been revealed the Auckland Council-controlled water provider last year signed up to paying $1 million a year, for two decades.

The money will go into research and environmental projects in the Waikato River and catchment.

It's on top of $40 million paid for clean-up projects under Watercare's river-consent agreement.

Watercare chief executive Dave Chambers says they could've been more open.

"As things have unfolded today - certainly if we had our time again, we would have done things in a different way." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you