Residents across the Wellington region are being invited to have their say on the future of water services, with public consultation opening tomorrow, 20 March.
As part of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reform, five councils—Hutt City, Upper Hutt City, Porirua City, Wellington City, and Greater Wellington—are working alongside Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika to propose a new model for managing water assets and services.
Greater Wellington is presenting two options for public feedback:
- A new multi-council-owned organisation that would take ownership of public drinking water and wastewater networks.
- A modified version of the current model, where Wellington Water Limited would continue to manage infrastructure and services on behalf of councils.
A Crucial Decision for Wellington’s Future
Greater Wellington Chair, Daran Ponter, empathized the significance of the proposal:
“This is the most important decision we’ll make for decades” says Ponter.
“While Greater Wellington has consistently invested in our bulk water infrastructure, the existing arrangement is cumbersome and not set up for enduring success.
“As a council, we have a clear preference: a new multi-council-owned organisation to take ownership of water assets and services. This model will allow for better planning, investment, and environmental protection—while keeping costs to households lower” says Ponter.
Strengthening Resilience in the Water Network
The Government’s Local Water Done Well reform establishes new regulatory standards for all councils, requiring them to meet stricter planning and accountability measures for water management.
Greater Wellington’s group manager for corporate services, Julie Knauf, emphasised the benefits of a regional approach.
“Across the wider Wellington urban area, our water supply and treatment network is an interconnected system, not confined within any one city boundary. A multi-council-owned organisation will ensure long-term investment, better service delivery, and the ability to access funding with greater borrowing power,” Knauf said.
As the only regional council in Aotearoa that owns bulk water assets, Greater Wellington plays a key role in managing water infrastructure, including treatment plants, pipelines, and pumping stations that serve Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, and Porirua.
Ponter reassured residents that water infrastructure will remain in public hands:
“This is about improving how we manage our publicly owned water services. Now is the time to have your say on the future of water in our region.”
How to Have Your Say
Public consultation will run from 20 March to 22 April 2025.
For more information and to provide feedback, visit www.gw.govt.nz/environment/freshwater/local-water-done-well/.
