The future of water services in Te Awakairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt

How will we fund and operate our water services in the future? This is the most important decision we’ll make for our city in decades.

The Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms require all councils to submit a water services delivery plan by September 2025, and we sought your views (20 March - 20 April 2025) on the best option for the future of our water services.

It’s critical that the model selected meets community needs and expectations for quality water provision in a way that is fit for purpose and most affordable. Feedback is now being analysed and will assist councillors when deciding on a delivery model at their meeting on 27 June 2025. Feedback will be shared with the public ahead of the decision.

Our preferred option is a new multi-council-owned water organisation, which would take ownership of public water services. This model allows for better long-term planning, investment, and environmental protection while keeping costs to consumers lower.

The alternative option is a modified status quo, in which councils retain asset ownership while Wellington Water Ltd manages services. While this maintains the status quo, it may limit future investment, efficiency, sustainability and lead to higher costs to consumers.

Regardless of the chosen approach, water infrastructure will remain publicly owned and managed on behalf of ratepayers.

How did we get here?

Find out the background to these reforms

Find out about the current state of our water services infrastructure