Reform
Local Water Done Well is the Coalition Government’s approach to addressing New Zealand’s water services challenges.
The objectives of Local Water Done Well are safe, resilient, reliable, environmentally sound, and customer responsive water services at the least cost.
Local Water Done Well recognises the importance of local decision making and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be delivered in the future.
Underpinning Local Water Done Well is a strong focus on ensuring that water services meet basic requirements. These include economic, environmental and water quality regulatory requirements.
These requirements will be set out in legislation and include:
• compliance with drinking water and environmental quality standards – overseen by the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai,
• financial sustainability and consumer protection requirements overseen by the Commerce Commission as the economic regulator of local government water services.
Recognising the funding and affordability challenges for councils and ratepayers to support the investment needed in water infrastructure, legislation provides for new models for water services delivery which councils may choose to implement.
These new models allow greater access to finance for investment in water services. All models for future delivery of water services, including “in house” delivery by councils, will be subject to minimum requirements. These include a protections against privatisation of water services and enhanced planning and accountability arrangements.
To facilitate the transition from the status quo for council water services to the new enduring settings, all councils are required under legislation to prepare Water Services Delivery Plans by 3 September 2025.
Water Services Delivery Plans must demonstrate to the government and the public how councils will deliver high-quality, financially sustainable water services in the long run.
They must include assessments of their current water infrastructure and services, how much they need to invest, and how they plan to finance and deliver services through their preferred service delivery model.
There are several agencies involved in supporting the Coalition Government to implement Local Water Done Well.
Department of Internal Affairs
The Department of Internal Affairs is the lead agency responsible for implementing Local Water Done Well. It provides stewardship, policy advice, and administers relevant legislation.
On the Department’s website you’ll find information about:
• Local Water Done Well legislation
• The future water services delivery system under Local Water Done Well
• Local Water Done Well announcements and updates.
The Department’s website also provides information and guidance for councils to support the implementation of Local Water Done Well. This includes:
• Water Services Delivery Plans information, guidance and templates
• Guidance to support planning and consideration of future water services delivery arrangements under Local Water Done Well.
www.dia.govt.nz/Water-Services-Policy-and-Legislation