Waikato Waters
About the Water Services Policy and Legislation
Following the 2023 election, the Government repealed the Three Waters legislation and has established Local Water Done Well framework and the preliminary arrangements for a new water services system.
The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act was enacted on 2 September 2024. A key requirement of this Act is for council to develop a Water Services Delivery Plan which will assess our water infrastructure, confirm how much we need to invest for compliance and how we plan to finance and deliver it through a preferred water service delivery model.
As part of the framework, a further Bill, the Local Government (Water Services) Act was introduced to Parliament in December 2024 and passed into legislation on 26 August 2025. This Act holds all the enduring settings for regulation, financial matters, and changes to the water service delivery system.
All local government water service providers will have to meet clear minimum requirements set out in legislation. This includes meeting regulatory standards, financial sustainability requirements such as ring-fencing of water services, and there will be restrictions against privatisation.
Related Links
Waikato Waters Limited (Waikato Waters)(WWL)
We have been analysing the different water service delivery models made available to us in the legislation. This analysis included understanding our current situation, the issues facing Hauraki district now and into the future in relation to water services delivery and how we will manage issues such as debt capacity, community affordability, workforce availability and compliance.
The results of this analysis came up with a preferred water services delivery model, a sub-regional CCO, called Waikato Waters Limited. This preferred model was consulted on with the community from 1 May – 23 May 2025 and on 25 June Council voted to transfer Hauraki District drinking water and wastewater services to Waikato Waters Limited on 1 July 2027.
Waikato Waters was incorporated on 24 July 2025 with the shareholding councils being:
- Hauraki District Council
- South Waikato District Council
- Waipā District Council
- Waitomo District Council
- Matamata-Piako District Council
- Ōtorohanga District Council
The company has elected an independent Board and Board Chair and held their first meeting on 18 September 2025. Additional details on the Board can be found on the Waikato Waters Ltd website.
Councils will continue to be involved in establishment and strategically will have a voice via the Shareholders Representative Forum (SRF) which had its inaugural meeting on 28 July 2025. HDC’s representative on this forum is the Mayor with the Deputy Mayor as the alternative representative. The SRF will oversee and provide direction to the Board on behalf of the Shareholding Councils; and provide a forum for representatives of Shareholding Councils to meet, discuss and coordinate decision making on relevant issues and, through their representatives, exercise their powers in respect of the Company.
The shareholding Waikato councils all share the same goals as the wider community:
- Collectively, we all want clean, safe water to drink no matter where we live.
- Collectively, we all want clean rivers and water ways
- Collectively, we all want wastewater treatment that meets increasing health and environmental standards
Board and Shareholder Representative Meetings agendas and minutes are available on the Waikato Waters website:
Water Services Delivery Plan
HDC has completed its Water Services Delivery Plan, using information already reported in our Long-term Plan 2024-34, Annual Plan 2025-2026, Infrastructure Strategy and Asset Management plans.
The plan was presented to Council at the 30 July 2025 Council meeting for their consideration and adoption. After adoption the plan was certified by our Chief Executive and submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), mid-August, in conjunction with the WSDP’s from the other shareholding Councils and an overarching introduction from Waikato Waters.
The Secretary for Local Government accepted the Waikato Waters, Water Services Delivery Plans with confirmation received on Thursday 18 September.
So, what is a water services delivery plan?
A water services delivery plan will set out a local council’s proposed approach to the long-term delivery of each of drinking water, wastewater treatment and disposal, and stormwater treatment and disposal. The plan will need to demonstrate that services are meeting the applicable health and environmental standards and appropriately addressing growth, in a financially sustainable way.
A water services delivery plan will need to address the method or methods for delivering water services. These may differ from service to service and in Hauraki district’s case our preferred delivery option is to be part of a sub-regional Council Controlled Organisation that delivers water and wastewater services while choosing to retain stormwater treatment and disposal ‘in house.’
What is Economic regulation?
Economic regulation is a key feature of Local Water Done Well, intended to ensure consumers pay efficient, cost-reflective prices for water services, that those services are delivered to an acceptable quality, and that council is investing sufficiently in their infrastructure.
Development of an economic regulation system for water services will be led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Relevant provisions are in the Local Government (Water Services) Act passed in August 2025. This economic regulation will be implemented by the Commerce Commission.
Government Information
Department of Internal Affairs / Te Tari Taiwhenua - A quick overview of Local Water Done Well
Department of Internal Affairs / Te Tari Taiwhenua – Water Services Delivery Plans
Department of Internal Affairs / Te Tari Taiwhenua – Future Water Services Delivery system
Taumata Arowai - Learn more about the new water services regulator
Department of Internal Affairs / Te Tari Taiwhenua - Previous Government support package Better Off funding guidance
Commerce Commission New Zealand (ComCom). Water - Wai
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) – Economic regulation policy for water services
Waikato Waters Limited – Waikato Water Done Well
