The new Local Government Minister is confident in his replacement to three waters. 

The government's looking to introduce legislation attempting to make it easier for councils to make council-controlled water entities. 

Labour's Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty fears smaller councils with high debts will be left in the dark. 

But Minister Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking that plans put forward by councils are expected to be financially sustainable. 

He says they're going to have economic regulation to make sure they're not gold-plating the infrastructure, and that it's cost effective. 

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• "Water is inherently local": Three Waters' replaced with council-lead water strategies