Local Water Done Well

In December 2023 the Government announced a new direction for water services, (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services) called Local Water Done Well.

The Government has introduced legislation that establishes the Local Water Done Well framework and the preliminary arrangements for the new water services system. It lays the foundation for a new approach to water services management and financially sustainable delivery models that meet regulatory standards.

Local Water Done Well is being implemented in three stages, each with its own piece of legislation. The second stage saw the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill enacted into law on 2 September 2024. Together with other councils in the region, we made a joint submission on this bill before it became law.

A further Bill providing more detail was introduced in December 2024. The Local Government (Water Services) Bill establishes the enduring settings for the new water services system.

The objectives of the Bill are to ensure water services are safe, reliable, environmentally resilient, customer responsive and delivered at the least cost to consumers and businesses.

A regional response

One of the legislative requirements is for councils to develop water services delivery plans. An Advisory Oversight Group (AOG) to oversee a regional approach to delivering water services has been established. The AOG is led by Dame Kerry Prendergast.  The group includes the four metropolitan councils within the region (Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua and Wellington) and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Our Council is represented on the AOG by Mayor Campbell Barry.

In October 2024 the councils received a report recommending a joint council-owned company that would provide all services directly to water customers, and bill directly for water usage and services provided.

In March and April 2025 we’ll consult alongside the other councils on whether to set up this new council-owned entity that owns the region’s water assets or to continue with a model in which the entity runs the water services for councils, without owning the assets.