Dear New Government – China would like our water now thanks
After being led into America’s new war in the Red Sea, the Chinese are just reminding the new Government that they want to take our water now thanks…
Infrastructure NZ group calls for clarity on Government’s water reform plans
Infrastructure New Zealand is pushing for water infrastructure to be taken off the financial books of councils.
The industry group has urged the government to provide clarity around its water reform programme and the replacement for the Three Waters legislation as soon as possible.
…sorry, and who is Infrastructure NZ again?
Infrastructure NZs largest interests comprise of the China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Bank of China.
In 2017, Infrastructure NZ led a delegation of 33 senior New Zealand public and private representatives to the UK. The purpose of the all expenses paid delegation was to investigate Scotland’s infrastructure innovations since devolution, especially their water system which ended up being the structural basis for 3 Waters.
Criticism of the financial structure of 3 Waters raises serious questions about the ease with which a failing water entity could be privatized.
Under the current 3 Waters legislation, the new water entities cannot be ‘bailed’ out by their council ‘owners’, and the entities are also empowered to sell assets if they can retain the capacity to exercise their duties functions and powers. The ‘owners’ can’t prevent this, nor can the Regional Representative Group or the appointment board.
The China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Bank of China are the domestic pimps for China’s Belt and Road project so why are we allowing Chinese interests to influence our infrastructure?
If they are the financial backers and the water assets go belly up, do they become the owners?
Why wasn’t this whole structure questioned in terms of who it’s actually benefiting, NZ or China?
That they are now prodding the new Government for direction and the fact Luxon has refused to rule them out when questioned about taking Chinese money for our infrastructure, this issue will not go away, especially as American and Chinese tensions ratchet up in the Pacific.
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There was an old Jasper Carrot joke much of which I forget, but the punchline has always stuck in my mind. “And now we’ve got a bunch of sharks selling us our water”.
“The China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Bank of China are the domestic pimps for China’s Belt and Road project so why are we allowing Chinese interests to influence our infrastructure?”
Money’s the same regardless of where it comes from. Money, speaks a language that mesmerizes all politicians!
AO, money is NOT the same no matter where it comes from; all money comes with strings attached. Oversea’s money comes with foreign ownership, e. g. our banks (excessive) profits flowing off-shore. Once the money goes off-shore it is lost to the NZ economy.
We have become serfs in our own country working to fund foreign landlords.
“all money comes with strings attached”
That’s the point, that’s the point, this is the point.
Now, if we can only extend this sliver of insight, past this one area of politics, into understanding that the majority of our political system has strings attached, and even worse, that the entire Western world, at least, has strings attached, then, then we might finally get the big picture – politicians put the interests of money over the interests of its citizens, more often than not – far more often than not. Thus, the system is broken and yes, serf city is exactly where we are all heading if we continually fail to see the bigger picture.
Given the situation in the red Sea at the moment the belt and road is looking a bit better though right?
What influences the actions of our politicians, is my point. Trivial to many people, as we can see here, everything to me.
Me too, the origin of most problems can be found by following the money trail.
Water isn’t the only thing the CCP Chinese Criminal Party will be coming for.
Care to “donate” a kidney or heart?
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/tens-of-thousands-of-xinjiang-detainees-killed-by-organ-harvesting-expert-says/
The biggest problem is that all of our recent governments believe in private ownership and profit from utilities. Because utilities serve basic needs as opposed to desires people must use them. That poses an opportunity for private capital to take a risk free rental from them. A real Labour government would nationalise our utilities for the benefit of all.
Dead right, Nick.
I see a ghost of Chile clanking its chains when you say that.
Oh dear. Are our leaders mendacious, callous and destructive or totally simple activated by dangling a carat before their eyes?
The whole thing reeks of treason . No wonder the Nats were so opposed to 3 Waters .
Infrastructure NZ was also recommending volumetric water charges be explored.
Oh look. Mayor Tory Whanau has committed to bringing water meters to Wellington.