Wairoa District Council wants to hear from the community on how our local people would like their water services delivered in the future.

The month-long engagement, which begins on Monday (May 12), is part of Central Government’s Local Water Done Well (LWDW) legislation, which aims to address New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges.

LWDW changes the way all councils across the country have traditionally delivered three waters services (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater), and paves the way for services and assets to be retained by councils while offering new options for delivering water services and funding water infrastructure.

As part of the Local Water Done Well programme and new legislation, all councils must consider how they can better and more cost-effectively provide these essential services.

Based on the financial modelling that has been provided, Wairoa District Council elected members have endorsed a preferred option of a joint council regional model in the form of a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) for future three waters delivery. Council is also seeking feedback on a Wairoa District Council CCO model and an In-house delivery model, similar to the current delivery, but with significant changes to meet the new legislation.

Mr Little said financial modelling shows scale is the key to reducing costs, making the regional model the most economically viable. “However, that needs to be balanced with the fact that a Wairoa District Council CCO delivered model, while likely more expensive, retains Wairoa’s localism. We only have to think back to Cyclone Gabrielle when Wairoa was alone and isolated, and it was our skilled local team and Wairoa-based resources that ensured our three waters delivery could continue. Wairoa is small and isolated, and it is vital that we have a local voice and local representation in decision-making. We need a locally-based regional depot with Wairoa-based specialised staff.

“A regional model appears to be the most efficient from a financial perspective, but we need to be mindful that whatever model is chosen, the future costs to meet the new legislation will be high.

“As we enter the consultation phase of Local Water Done Well, the voice of our community is essential. We need to gauge whether our people want us to go it alone or work together across the region, noting there are pros and cons for all options.

“This complex situation is based on many assumptions and unanswered questions. We want the best for our community, but it is frustrating to be seeking feedback when there are so many unknowns.

“This is a fundamental intergenerational decision that impacts us all, and we genuinely want to hear what people think, remembering at all times this is government-driven and based on new, stringent legislation to improve our water services delivery across the country.”

During the consultation period, community hui will be held throughout the district, as well as caravan sessions and drop-in information sessions at the Council.

8 May 2025

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