Local Water Done Well

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New Zealand as a whole is facing considerable challenges in the delivery of water services with aging infrastructure, population growth, rising operational costs, climate change and natural disasters. Through Local Water Done Well (LWDW) the Government aims to transform the country’s approach to water delivery.

We, alongside our communities, face an important decision about the future of our water and wastewater services. This isn’t just about the water you drink or what goes down the drain - it’s about ensuring our water services remain sustainable and well-managed for generations to come.

Deciding on the right delivery option involves more than simply meeting legal requirements. We also know that affordability is a major concern for Hauraki District. We know that water costs are more than likely going to rise to meet higher quality standards and future challenges – not just for Hauraki District, but nationwide. So, the consideration of the long-term costs has been an integral part to the options consideration and what best fits the unique needs of our District.

We have undertaken a lot of work

Since the start of the year, we have been talking with other councils, attending regional meetings and reading the large amount of information provided by industry experts and government bodies. We’ve undertaken a comprehensive assessment of our current water service delivery approach, the upgrades and maintenance that will need to take place into the future and the affect these requirements will have on our community. We used our findings to recommend a preferred water services delivery option, a sub-regional Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) to be called Waikato Waters Ltd, and in May we requested your feedback.

Feedback

Council received digital/written feedback from 37 individuals and one organisation. In order to keep the consultative approach simple, focused questions were included in both the feedback forms and digitally in a poll/survey form.

Survey question: Do you support Councils preferred option of establishing a joint CCO for water services?

Survey question: Which ward do you live in?

Survey question: Are you, or a member of your immediate family employed as a Hauraki District Council staff member?

As well as the poll, Council asked for the reason for your response and any other feedback related to Local Water Done Well that would be shared with Elected Members. This information can be read in the Hearings and Deliberations Report found under “Where can I find further information on the Local Water Done Well proposal for Hauraki District?”

The feedback provided good insight into community thoughts and we have incorporated some of the information by updating the FAQs and some are marked for answering at a later date when the path forward becomes clearer.

Future Water Services Delivery Model

At the 25 June 2025 Council meeting, staff recommended to Council to proceed with the preferred Water Services Delivery model, joining into a sub-regional Council Controlled organisation with no changes to the proposal. Council subsequently voted in favour of this option and on 1 July 2027 Hauraki District Council will transfer its drinking water and wastewater services into a new water organisation, Waikato Waters Ltd (Waikato Waters)(WWL). Stormwater will be retained and delivered separately by Council.

HDC will be a shareholder of Waikato Waters alongside 5 other neighbouring Councils, Matamata Piako District Council, Waipa District Council, South Waikato District Council, Waitomo District Council and Ōtorohanga District Council. Shares allocation is proportional to the number of Total Water Connections within our Service Area and shares cannot be used as security for any purpose, sold or transferred. Councils will have a voice via the Shareholders Representative Forum (SRF). 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.

Councils decision to transfer drinking water and wastewater services into Waikato Waters Ltd, will be incorporated into HDC’s Water Services Delivery Plan due to be presented to Council at the end of July 2025 for their consideration and approval. The plan is required to be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), no later than 3 September 2025 where it will be checked and either accepted by the DIA or returned to Council for changes and re-submit. The plan is expected to be returned to Council by December 2025 at which time, the future Water Services Delivery model for the Hauraki district will be confirmed.

New Zealand as a whole is facing considerable challenges in the delivery of water services with aging infrastructure, population growth, rising operational costs, climate change and natural disasters. Through Local Water Done Well (LWDW) the Government aims to transform the country’s approach to water delivery.

We, alongside our communities, face an important decision about the future of our water and wastewater services. This isn’t just about the water you drink or what goes down the drain - it’s about ensuring our water services remain sustainable and well-managed for generations to come.

Deciding on the right delivery option involves more than simply meeting legal requirements. We also know that affordability is a major concern for Hauraki District. We know that water costs are more than likely going to rise to meet higher quality standards and future challenges – not just for Hauraki District, but nationwide. So, the consideration of the long-term costs has been an integral part to the options consideration and what best fits the unique needs of our District.

We have undertaken a lot of work

Since the start of the year, we have been talking with other councils, attending regional meetings and reading the large amount of information provided by industry experts and government bodies. We’ve undertaken a comprehensive assessment of our current water service delivery approach, the upgrades and maintenance that will need to take place into the future and the affect these requirements will have on our community. We used our findings to recommend a preferred water services delivery option, a sub-regional Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) to be called Waikato Waters Ltd, and in May we requested your feedback.

Feedback

Council received digital/written feedback from 37 individuals and one organisation. In order to keep the consultative approach simple, focused questions were included in both the feedback forms and digitally in a poll/survey form.

Survey question: Do you support Councils preferred option of establishing a joint CCO for water services?

Survey question: Which ward do you live in?

Survey question: Are you, or a member of your immediate family employed as a Hauraki District Council staff member?

As well as the poll, Council asked for the reason for your response and any other feedback related to Local Water Done Well that would be shared with Elected Members. This information can be read in the Hearings and Deliberations Report found under “Where can I find further information on the Local Water Done Well proposal for Hauraki District?”

The feedback provided good insight into community thoughts and we have incorporated some of the information by updating the FAQs and some are marked for answering at a later date when the path forward becomes clearer.

Future Water Services Delivery Model

At the 25 June 2025 Council meeting, staff recommended to Council to proceed with the preferred Water Services Delivery model, joining into a sub-regional Council Controlled organisation with no changes to the proposal. Council subsequently voted in favour of this option and on 1 July 2027 Hauraki District Council will transfer its drinking water and wastewater services into a new water organisation, Waikato Waters Ltd (Waikato Waters)(WWL). Stormwater will be retained and delivered separately by Council.

HDC will be a shareholder of Waikato Waters alongside 5 other neighbouring Councils, Matamata Piako District Council, Waipa District Council, South Waikato District Council, Waitomo District Council and Ōtorohanga District Council. Shares allocation is proportional to the number of Total Water Connections within our Service Area and shares cannot be used as security for any purpose, sold or transferred. Councils will have a voice via the Shareholders Representative Forum (SRF). 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.

Councils decision to transfer drinking water and wastewater services into Waikato Waters Ltd, will be incorporated into HDC’s Water Services Delivery Plan due to be presented to Council at the end of July 2025 for their consideration and approval. The plan is required to be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), no later than 3 September 2025 where it will be checked and either accepted by the DIA or returned to Council for changes and re-submit. The plan is expected to be returned to Council by December 2025 at which time, the future Water Services Delivery model for the Hauraki district will be confirmed.

Page last updated: 04 Jul 2025, 09:08 AM