Local Water Done Well

Last updated: 17 Feb, 2025 09:29am

News & Updates

Our water services

why reform?

Questions & Answers

News & Updates

Local Water Done Well

Local Water Done Well

Jul 17, 2024

Development of a joint delivery arrangement for inclusion in a Water Services Delivery Plan The...

Our Water Services

Council manages drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services on behalf of Carterton District. [We also provide services for water race users.]

 

Drinking water

The water your family drinks from the tap has to be safe. Most New Zealanders get their water from Council supplies. This water comes from rivers and aquifers, and through treatment plants. The plants are designed to meet water standards, so homes and businesses enjoy safe water.

Wastewater

Millions of litres go to Wairarapa households every day.  Because about 1% of that is human and other waste, it contains many bacteria and viruses that could be harmful to human health. This is then treated at a wastewater treatment plant, and sent to irrigate land, or discharged to sea.

 

Stormwater

The stormwater system is a network that drains the rain off of our roads, footpaths, and from our gutters, and diverts it into our streams, rivers and eventually out to sea. Unlike wastewater, which gets treated at a treatment plant, stormwater does not get treated. Everything that goes into the stormwater system will eventually end up at sea. 

Why reform?

The Government is reviewing how to improve the regulation and supply arrangements of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater (three waters) to better support New Zealand’s health, safety and environment. Most three waters assets and services, but not all, are owned and delivered by local councils.

Our Council is in pretty good shape compared to many other councils. The government is inviting local councils to be part of this review, and co-design what this may look like in the future. 

Recent history of reforms

2016 - Havelock North gastroentiritis outbreak

In 2016, the Havelock North water crisis raised concerns about water management in New Zealand and the high costs to communities to ensure we all have safe drinking water.

Havelock North’s community suffered an outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by contaminated drinking water. The crisis affected thousands of people in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand.

An estimated 5,500 people became ill with campylobacteriosis, with 45 people hospitalized.

The outbreak was linked to contaminated drinking water from two bores. The contamination was caused by heavy rainfall, drainage of sheep feces, and a contaminated stream

Some people were left permanently disabled, and an unknown number of residents continue to suffer health complications.

2017 - Reforms announced

In 2017, the Government began reviewing the regulation and supply arrangements of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater [three waters] to better support New Zealand’s health, safety and environment. Most three waters assets and services, but not all, are owned and delivered by local councils.

2020 - Three Waters Review

To be part of that conversation, we needed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in 2020 outlining how local and central government will work together, which also entitled us to $1.84m of funding which we can put towards water supply, waste water, or storm water (but not towards projects which we have already budgeted for). Carterton District Council received $1.7million in Bettter Off funding after signing the MoU.

2021 - Taumata Arowai launches

Taumata Arowai became a Crown entity in March 2021 and took over from the Ministry of Health as the dedicated new drinking water regulator when the Water Services Act commenced on 15 November 2021. Taumata Arowai is the water services regulator for Aotearoa. We are committed to ensuring all communities have access to safe drinking water every day. We also have a role in relation to the environmental performance of wastewater and stormwater networks across Aotearoa New Zealand.

2023 - Amendments and change of Government

In April 2023, government annouced changes to the reforms.

The government refined a multi-regional (i.e. Lower North Island) organisations to manage water assets and debt from 4 to 10 water service entities.

These included:

  • The establishment of 10, rather than four, new regionally owned and led public water entities to be established.
  • Entities will be owned by local councils on behalf of the public, and entity borders to be based on existing regional areas.
  • Each entity to be run by a professional board, with appointed members.
  • Strategic oversight and direction to be provided by local representative groups with every local council in the country, as well as mana whenua, getting a seat at the table.
  • The second tranche of $1.5 billion better off funding has been discontinued.

A change in Government in that year’s election inspired a change in policy. The reforms were reviewed and relaunched as Local Water Done Well.

2024 - Local Water Done Well

The new Coalition Government introduced Local Water Done Well to address water infrastructure challenges by allowing local councils to decide how to manage their water services, replacing the previous “Three Waters” reform which aimed to centralize water management.

In 2024, the government repealed the Three Waters legislation and introduced the Local Water Done Well framework, allowing councils to develop their own water service delivery plans while still maintaining local control over water assets and services.

Questions & Answers

What is Local Water Done Well?

Local Water Done Well is the Coalition Government’s plan to address New Zealand’s long-standing water infrastructure challenges. It replaces the previous government’s Three Waters proposals.

What does it mean for me?

Fresh and clean water will still flow from your taps, and your toilet will still flush; it is just who provides the service may change.

What does this mean for Councils?

There will be new rules for investment, borrowing and pricing and new options for how we deliver water services.

Councils throughout New Zealand are required to formulate a Water Services Delivery Plan by September 2025. The plan will show how they will deliver services that meet the new water quality and infrastructure standards, support growth and urban development, that will be financially sustainable and can meet new regulatory standards by June 2028.

Why are water reforms needed?

The water reforms began to ensure everyone has safe, clean drinking water and to improve the way wastewater and stormwater are managed.

The Havelock North drinking water incident in 2016 was a major trigger for this work, when around 5500 people fell ill and four people died after drinking contaminated water.

This event exposed serious issues with New Zealand’s water infrastructure, safety standards, and the need for stricter regulation. It highlighted the risk of poorly maintained water systems, prompting the government to push for legislation changes to ensure safe drinking water nationwide.

Do all councils have to develop a plan?

Yes, all territorial authorities must prepare a plan.

This includes all district and city councils, and unitary authorities, and excludes regional councils.

Plans can be developed by individual councils, or jointly with other councils if they propose to deliver water services through a joint arrangement.

Does the community get to have a say on water service delivery?

Councils are required to consult their communities on their proposed arrangements for delivering water services, whether this is retaining their existing arrangements or establishing or joining Council-Controlled Organisations.

The consultation document must make the following information available for the public:

  • The proposed model or arrangements
  • An analysis of at least two options
  • Potential impacts of proceeding or not proceeding with the proposal, including on rates, debt, levels of service, and any charges for water services
  • The implications for communities, if the proposal involves establishing, joining, or amending a joint water services organisation.

Carterton District Council, and neighbouring Masterton, South Wairarapa, and Tararua District Councils. intends to consult with our community on its proposed water services early in 2025.

The consultation must be completed before the plans are submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs.

Where can I find out more?

You can visit the Department of Internal Affairs Three Waters webpage.

Taumata Arowai became a new Crown entity in March 2021. Water NZ has put together water supply performance information of various Councils. This can be found here WaterNZ dashboard.

Visit our InfoCouncil pages for agenda and meetings from Council discussions on Local Water Done Well.