Responding to Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop’s claims that Wellington councils have been shifting unrelated debt onto the region’s new water entity, Tiaki Wai, Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman James Ross called on councils to release the two reports council commissioned into the debt transfer.

“When even DIA are saying Tiaki Wai has been burdened with debt levels ‘significantly higher than the amount of money council borrowed for three waters’, ratepayers can smell a rat.”

“If debt has been improperly shifted to Tiaki Wai, that’s not just an accounting trick. It means higher water bills for residents, while giving councils more leeway to spend on the credit card.”

“Council Rich Listers say Bishop’s claim isn’t true, yet central government officials agree with the Minister. We say enough of the he-said-she-said. Release the two reports - unredacted -  and let ratepayers judge for themselves.”