The Local Water Done Well framework and preliminary arrangements for the new water services system have been created through legislation. These changes lay 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 is underway, with the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill introduced to Parliament on 30 May. You can read more about this Bill and our submission in the below update.
It is expected this legislation will be enacted and become law in late August 2024. A further Bill, providing more detail, is expected to be introduced in December 2024.
One of the legislative requirements is for councils to develop water services delivery plans. Porirua City is working towards the development of a water service delivery plan in response to the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy. The water services delivery plan must include a description of the proposed model or arrangements to deliver water services, including whether this will be achieved alone, or by working with other councils.
Work is at an early stage to examine reasonably practicable options.
As part of exploring the options, Porirua City is working with the other councils in the Wellington region, and Horowhenua District Council, to develop the concept for a joint-council water services organisation that will be workable, affordable, sustainable and meet the needs of communities and the environment.
An Advisory Oversight Group (AOG) for this regional approach has been established. This is led by Dame Kerry Prendergast and made up of elected members and iwi representatives from the 10 councils in the Wellington region and Horowhenua District. Our council is represented on the AOG by Mayor Anita Baker.
AOG Chair Dame Kerry Prendergast says the councils, representing more than half a million people, are committed to the process and are working at pace to ensure the right approach to water management is reached.
Consultation is likely to be undertaken in 2025 once we have further developed options for consideration.
Council will continue to update this page as its works through the water reform process.
The Government has set out the key details of New Zealand’s future water services delivery system under Local Water Done Well.
Read more about the announcement here.
Find out more about the changes, including those that will be reflected in the proposed Local Government Water Services Bill here.
The submission process for the Government's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill has closed.
Collective councils of the Wellington region and Horowhenua District made a submission to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee regarding the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill.
You can read the submission here.
The Bill aims to establish preliminary arrangements for local government water services delivery. It is the second of three bills related to waters services that the Government intends to pass.
You can read more about the Bill here.
Porirua City is teaming up with other councils in the Wellington region on water reform, to jointly develop a water service delivery plan that is workable, affordable, sustainable and meets the needs of communities and the environment. You can read more about it here.
The Department of Internal Affairs has provided councils with information about the Local Water Done Well policy decisions. You can read about it here.
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. You can read about it here.
The Government has repealed the Water Services legislation through the Water Services Acts Repeal Bill.
You can read the Bill here.
The Government has announced the establishment of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide expert advice on the implementation of its Local Water Done Well.
At the moment 67 different councils, including Porirua, own and operate the majority of the country’s water services. However, councils face a number of challenges to deliver these in an affordable way into the future, including ageing infrastructure, growth and the impacts of climate change.
The previous Government’s plan proposed putting all water services into 10 new publicly-owned Water Services Entities (WSEs). Porirua would have been in Entity G with seven other councils from the Wellington region.
The Government was implementing reform of water services through a suite of legislation, including:
The Government made changes to the water services reform programme (Three Waters Reform) in April '23. These changes included increasing the number of new water services entities from four to 10, the establishment date of the entities (with the new entities going live sequentially from early 2025) by 1 July 2026.
Legislation to implement these changes and associated matters was intended to take place before the 2023 general election.
The Water Services Legislation Bill and The Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill were largely unaffected by the changes.
This is a big issue for all Councils and one we are taking very seriously to ensure a good outcome for Porirua. It is clear things cannot continue as they are, but the way forward has not been decided yet.
Until changes are completed, we will continue to deliver water services through Wellington Water, the region’s joint Council controlled organisation. Porirua, Wellington, Hutt, Upper Hutt, Greater Wellington and South Wairarapa councils are all owners in Wellington Water.
