New Zealand is facing growing challenges in providing sustainable and affordable water services. Infrastructure issues, environmental and public health, climate change, and population growth all highlighted the need for major reforms.
Local Water Done Well (LWDW) aims to transform New Zealand’s approach to water delivery, empowering communities, and councils to manage water services effectively and to high standards.
We’ll be asking for your feedback on how we should do this in March and April this year.
For us in the Waikato District, the preferred option is to create a new entity (a Council-Controlled Organisation, or CCO) jointly with Hamilton City Council. This option helps us both with our needs around growth and the heavy demands on our water infrastructure, as well as our shared commitment to caring for our awa, giving effect to Te Ture Whaimana and honouring the importance of the Waikato River.
Another option is to continue with a contract model. However, this is not likely to be a strong option financially, or meet key criteria such as economies of scale
We are also keeping the doors open for discussions with Waikato Water Done Well, which is a group of other councils forming an alternative CCO, about the opportunity to ultimately bring the two companies together.
Government has made it clear that a more regionally-focused and collaborative approach is going to need to be part of the final plan we present to them in September 2025.
Follow our Water Matters page for background and updates.
