Local Water Done Well
To support the distribution of information about the new entity, a new website has been set up that includes all information about the new water entity including updates, information and who to contact if you have any questions.
As establishment will be on going through to July 2027, more information and answers will be released as they become available and decisions are made. To keep up to date and informed, keep an eye on the new site. If you have questions, you can use the contact page on the new site to get in touch with the team.
Background
In December 2023 the Government announced a new direction for water services (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services) policy and legislation which it has called Local Water Done Well.
The three Wairarapa district councils (Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa) and Tararua District Council (TDC) are exploring options for future water services delivery. This is required by the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill introduced into Parliament on 30 May 2024.
The Bill requires councils to prepare water services delivery plans that:
- identify the current state of each council’s water services
- demonstrate publicly each council’s commitment to deliver water services in a way that ensures compliance, meets drinking water standards, is financially sustainable, and supports housing growth and urban development.
The water services delivery plan must include a description of the proposed model or arrangements to deliver water services, including whether this will be through a new joint arrangement, or by continuing a current arrangement, e.g. South Wairarapa’s arrangement with Wellington Water Ltd, or in its district alone (currently the case for Masterton District Council).
The Department of Internal Affairs has provided councils with information about the Local Water Done Well policy decisions. Read the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) information for councils.
Minister of Local Government Hon Simeon Brown has also provided information on Local Water Done Well stage 2: Establishing the framework and transitional arrangement for the new water services system. Read the letter from Hon Simeon Brown.
To date, March 2026, The three Wairarapa district councils – Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa – and Tararua District Council have had their Water Services Delivery Plans approved by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
These plans set out the Councils’ intent to establish a new regional water organisation to deliver water services to their communities.
With the DIA approval achieved, the Councils are required under the water legislation to move forward together to implement the plan, establish the new company, and prepare for the operational transition of water services from Councils.
The company will be operational from 1 July 2027. Until that date, water services will continue to be delivered by Councils under current arrangements.
The approval of the Water Services Delivery Plans provides confidence in the Councils’ intentions to establish a new regional organisation to deliver critical water services for their communities into the future.
Key documents
- 1. WRWSDP Regional Report (PDF, 2.4MB)
- 2. Appendices - WRWSDP Report (PDF, 4.1MB)
- 3. Appendices - Council Profiles (PDF, 1.7MB)
- 4. Appendices - Asset Management Plans (PDF, 1.5MB)
- 5. Appendices - Castalia Review (PDF, 332.9KB)
- 6. Appendices - Water Services Delivery Plan Options (PDF, 992.7KB)
- 7. Appendices - Wairarapa Councils Model Presentation (PDF, 1.8MB)
- 8. Appendices - MCA Criteria Definition, Criticality and Anchors (XLSX, 17.3KB)
- 9. Appendices - MCA Evaluation (XLSX, 62.7KB)
- Joint Submission - Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill (PDF, 506KB)
- Joint Submission - Wairarapa provincial approach (PDF, 229.9KB)
- WAI + T - Masterton District Council (PDF, 574.1KB)
- Wai + T Joint Arrangement Report (PDF, 1.6MB)
- Wairarapa and Tararua Water Done Well - Analysis (PDF, 501.2KB)
