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.
Wellington City Council is working with the other councils in the Wellington region along with Kāpiti Coast District Council, and the Horowhenua District on a Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) to reform the region’s water services.
Read the Memorandum of Understanding, Wellington Region Water Service Delivery Planning (902KB PDF).
The 10 councils, representing more than half a million people, are committed to the process and working at pace to ensure we land an enduring approach to water management ahead of the local government elections in 2025.
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.
A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has also been set up to provide expert advice on the implementation of Local Water Done Well.
June 2024
Local Water Done Well Bill 2 had its first reading in the house on May 30 2024. Wellington councils submitted a joint proposal to the bill in June. Read the joint proposal (446KB PDF).
Bill 3, expected in late 2024, will address many of the more challenging aspects of water reform, including:
- long-term requirements for financial stability;
- further details about the powers, functions, and duties of a water services entity;
- further details about any other water services delivery models;
- accountability, planning and reporting regimes for water services;
- comprehensive economic regulation;
- amendments to the regulatory settings for Taumata Arowai, the Water Services Regulator; establishing a regulatory backstop power; and
- further changes to the LGA 2002 and other legislation to strengthen the delivery of water services
The Government’s timetable has the new water services entity in place mid-2025.
The proposed new Wellington region water services entity will go before council and public consultation before implementation.
Council will continue to update this page as its works through the water reform process.