Three Waters Reform

About Three Waters Reform

The Government has mandated changes to the way drinking water, waste water and storm water are delivered in our communities. With major challenges ahead for the three water services (collectively known as Three Waters), the changes aim to ensure all New Zealanders have access to safe, reliable and affordable water services, while taking better care of our environment.

During August and September 2021, Councils reviewed and assessed information on the Government’s proposal. The model would see the responsibility for Hauraki district’s three waters services transferred to a regional entity comprising of 22 councils from the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and top of the central North Island. The entity would remain in public ownership.

At the end of September 2021 we provided feedback to the Government outlining our concerns with the model and indicated that we would not support the proposal in its current form.

After considering the feedback from all local authorities, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta confirmed on 27 October 2021 that the Government will push ahead with its preferred Three Waters reform plan - mandating changes to water services nationally. This decision is counter to the Government’s earlier promise to give Councils the choice of opting in or out of the reform in December.

New legislation has been introduced, and more is being drafted, to enable this change. Please check the timeline and additional information section on this page for more on this.

The National Transition Unit has been established to execute the Government’s decisions on Three Waters reform through a consistent and coordinated nationwide approach to transition. From November 2021 to 1 July 2024, the transition from the current system to the new one will take place.

Government has provided a funding package to support councils transition through the Three Waters Reform.