Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins is to present the city council’s submission about the Three Waters reforms to a parliamentary select committee this month.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan and Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher were among the speakers who made arguments at a Water Services Entities Bill select committee hearing in Dunedin this week.
Dunedin City Council viewpoints are due to be presented to the finance and expenditure committee via Zoom on August 31.
"We were given the option of presenting our submission to the subcommittee in Dunedin this week, or to the full select committee in Wellington," Mr Hawkins said.
"I feel we will be better served politically by having the largest audience possible."
The Three Waters reforms have been contentious and the planned entities to be set up under the legislation would take over functions from councils.
The city council is fundamentally opposed to the service delivery model proposed by the Government and it has suggested an entity covering Otago and Southland could be more palatable than an entity covering much of the South Island.
Mr Cadogan told the subcommittee on Wednesday, members of Parliament should step up and take ownership of their agenda.
"This is central government’s baby and councils are getting sick and tired of changing the nappies."
