Ardern said the Government understood reforming New Zealand’s water assets might harm the balance sheets of some councils. Just over $23m of the $2b fund would go to Marlborough, with Nelson and Tasman receiving $20.7m and $22.5m respectively. The funding was based on both population and deprivation. It comes on top of the $1.05b already committed to the three waters reforms, triggered after contaminated drinking water left a third of Havelock North’s residents sick with campylobacter in 2016, possibly leading to three deaths. Joining the reforms remains optional, but the Government has warned councils that without them household water bills could be as high as $9000 a year in 30 years.