Local Waters Done Well
Central Government is reviewing the regulation and supply of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater (the three waters) in New Zealand. The Three Waters Reform Programme is being led by the Department for Internal Affairs.
LOCAL WATERS DONE WELL - UPDATE FEBRUARY 28TH 2025
Local Waters Done Well is central governments’ new approach to the way that all local Councils across the country deliver three waters services (water supply, wastewater and stormwater). The new legislation sets out how Councils will be subject to both environmental as well as new economic regulation going forward.
Under the new legislation all Councils across the country are required to submit a Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) for approval from government by September 2025. The WSDP needs to outline the Council’s intended approach to the delivery of water services and an implementation plan for how those services will be delivered for at least the next 10 years. It must clearly demonstrate that water services delivery is financially sustainable in their own right to ensure sufficient investment is being made in these crucial services.
The government is encouraging Councils across the country to work together on joint solutions. Over the last few months, Kaikōura District Council has been engaging with both Hurunui and Waimakariri Councils as our North Canterbury neighbours to investigate options for working together more closely.
Our Council considered a paper at the Council meeting of the 26th February 2025 to identify a preferred option that is right for our community for the long term. The two other Councils have done similar work.
Below is a joint media statement from the Mayors of the three Districts outlining where we have landed with our preferred options. For Kaikōura and Hurunui our preferred option is to create a new joint Council Controlled Organisation (CCO,) owned by both Councils. More detail can be found in the full Council report.
What is proposed by the Government?
The review, which began in 2017 and was sparked by the campylobacteriosis outbreak in Havelock North in 2016, and has already delivered new legislation and the creation of Taumata Arowai, a new Water Services Regulator, to oversee and enforce a new drinking water regulatory framework, with additional oversight of wastewater and stormwater networks.
Most three waters assets and services in New Zealand are owned and delivered by local councils.
While addressing the regulatory issues, both central and local government have identified under-investment in three waters infrastructure in parts of the country and persistent affordability issues for ratepayers, as well as the need for additional investment to meet improvements in freshwater outcomes and increase resilience to climate change and natural hazards.
The initial proposal was to hand water services from the 67 councils who currently manage services. into four big regional water authorities. One entity was proposed to cover the Ngāi Tahu takiwa (All of the South Island excluding Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman).
Ownership would remain with Councils (mandated by legislation) and there would be protection to ensure the water entities do not become privatised without a public referendum with a 75 percent threshold.
However, on 14 December 2023 the Government announced a new direction for water services.
On 12 February 2024 the Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown announced the establishment of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide expert advice on the implementation of Local Water Done Well.
You can read the Minister’s press release here: Government advances Local Water Done Well - 12 February 2024
Where are we at in the process?
In December 2023 the Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown confirmed a new direction for water services policy and legislation Local Water Done Well.
On 12 February 2024 the Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown announced the establishment of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide expert advice on the implementation of Local Water Done Well.
You can find more information on the Department of Internal Affairs Website.
Membership of Communities 4 Local Democracy - He hapori mo te Manapori
Communities 4 Local Democracy He hapori mo te Manapori is a local government action group committed to working with central government to ensure all New Zealanders have access to safe drinking water and that all of our local communities continue to have a say on the use of assets purchased on their behalf using ratepayer funds.
The group’s campaign is inclusive – it’s about safe drinking water for all New Zealanders – whoever and wherever they are. It is also apolitical – we’re completely focused on the issue regardless of political affiliation.
North Canterbury Working Together on Three Waters
North Canterbury councils are collaborating on what the future for Three Waters might look like when central government passes legislation later this year.
Local Water Done Well, is central government’s new policy for water reform, and will require changes to the structure of water services and provision nationwide. Once the legislation passes later this year, each Council will have 12 months to create a Water Services Delivery Plan that details how they will meet higher standards, investment, and regulations.
The new policy allows for local solutions and arrangements to be made to address water infrastructure needs while, importantly, maintaining local ownership and representation.
For these reasons Hurunui, Kaikōura, and Waimakariri District councils have been working with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and looking at options ahead of time to see what could achieve these outcomes while still having tangible local say about future direction and investment.
What is the latest from Government?
Updated 2 September
Various Ministers of Local Government have also issues a number of press releases relating to the Reform proposal. These can be found here:
National/ACT/NZ First Three Waters statements:
- 27 August - Local Water Done Well bill passes
- 8 August 2024 - Unlocking Local Water Done Well: New water service delivery models
- 5 May 2024 - Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
- 5 April - Delivering on Local Water Done Well
- 14 February. Labour’s Three Waters legislation repealed
- 12 February 2024. Government advances Local Water Done Well
- 14 December 2023. Government to release Three Waters legislation
- The full list of media statements can be found here.
Labour Three Waters statements:
- February 2023. Government takes new direction with policy refocus
- December 2022. New legislation to provide affordable water services for New Zealanders
- December 2022. Next steps in securing affordable water services for New Zealanders
- November 2022. Changes make water reforms more workable for communities and councils
- July 2022. Government provides Three Waters support for councils
- June 2022. New legislation to improve water services and protect community ownership
- April 2022. Council ownership of waters entities confirmed
- March 2022. Government to consider three waters recommendations following Working Group report
- The full list of media statements can be found here.
What is the latest from Kaikо̄ura District Council?
LOCAL WATERS DONE WELL - UPDATE FEBRUARY 28TH 2025
Local Waters Done Well is central governments’ new approach to the way that all local Councils across the country deliver three waters services (water supply, wastewater and stormwater). The new legislation sets out how Councils will be subject to both environmental as well as new economic regulation going forward.
Under the new legislation all Councils across the country are required to submit a Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) for approval from government by September 2025. The WSDP needs to outline the Council’s intended approach to the delivery of water services and an implementation plan for how those services will be delivered for at least the next 10 years. It must clearly demonstrate that water services delivery is financially sustainable in their own right to ensure sufficient investment is being made in these crucial services.
The government is encouraging Councils across the country to work together on joint solutions. Over the last few months, Kaikōura District Council has been engaging with both Hurunui and Waimakariri Councils as our North Canterbury neighbours to investigate options for working together more closely.
Our Council considered a paper at the Council meeting of the 26th February 2025 to identify a preferred option that is right for our community for the long term. The two other Councils have done similar work.
Below is a joint media statement from the Mayors of the three Districts outlining where we have landed with our preferred options. For Kaikōura and Hurunui our preferred option is to create a new joint Council Controlled Organisation (CCO,) owned by both Councils. More detail can be found in the full Council report.
Updated 20th February 2025
Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikо̄ura councils continue to investigate structures for Three Waters under Local Water Done Well.
Once the councils have each considered the best structure for their community, a further update will be provided. This is expected to be in early March.
Updated 7th August 2024
North Canterbury Working Together on Three Waters
North Canterbury councils are collaborating on what the future for Three Waters might look like when central government passes legislation later this year.
Local Water Done Well, is central government’s new policy for water reform, and will require changes to the structure of water services and provision nationwide.
Once the legislation passes later this year, each Council will have 12 months to create a Water Services Delivery Plan that details how they will meet higher standards, investment, and regulations.
The new policy allows for local solutions and arrangements to be made to address water infrastructure needs while, importantly, maintaining local ownership and representation.
For these reasons Hurunui, Kaikōura, and Waimakariri District councils have been working with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and looking at options ahead of time to see what could achieve these outcomes while still having tangible local say about future direction and investment.
Several models are to be considered by the councils that address service delivery while retaining ‘local say’.
“The North Canterbury councils working together makes sense,” says Kaikoura Mayor Craig Mackle. “Our populations are made up of both rural and urban communities, our economies are interrelated, and many of our residents see themselves collectively as being North Canterbury.”
“Our councils also have a history of working together,” says Hurunui Mayor Marie Black. “For example, Hurunui supplies water to a portion of Waimakariri residents on the Ashley water scheme using Waimakariri consents. We united following the Kaikoura and Hurunui earthquakes, regularly support each other during Civil Defence activations, and more recently have been aligned in our feedback in opposition to the previous Government’s mandated reform model for Three Waters.”
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon says the three councils are members of Communities 4 Local Democracy He hapori mo te Manapori (C4LD), and Local Water Done Well builds on the work undertaken by C4LD.
“C4LD always acknowledged that higher regulations and standards are required and coming and that there is a need for different models to fund future further investment in Three Waters.
“However, this can be achieved while maintaining local ownership, accountability to the community, alignment with wider council projections and planning, and the fact that higher standards can be met more effectively in the long run by looking at alternative models, and we congratulate the Coalition Government for recognising this.”
Once functional models are identified, the councils will engage with their communities and decide on the options. This is likely to take place towards the end of the year or in early 2025.
The current status quo however is unlikely to satisfy the new regulatory regime for water infrastructure and so change at some level will likely occur.
