Roadworks in Taranaki – not much progress. DN Photo

During this second term of the Labour-dominated government one thing that has become apparent is its quest to gain central control over more of the country’s basic functions.

We’ve got all the polytechnics now merged into a single administrative entity, the regional health boards are going to be reorganised into a small number of new mega-boards, and now there is a plan to take over what is being called the “Three Waters” – drinking water, sewerage and stormwater drainage.

The government is predicting large ratepayer savings with this plan, but now our many councils are questioning the numbers. The rest of us can only wonder if we’re going to get another version of the roads board system, which has left our main highways patchy and neglected.

Have a read on my thoughts about Three Waters in this recent column I wrote for the Taranaki Daily News and Stuff.