Local Water Done Well: A sustainable future for our water services

A photo of Whau valley Dam with a bright blue sky above and green grass in the foreground.

What is Local Water Done Well?

Across the nation, councils are facing big challenges relating to the delivery of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services. 

Local Water Done Well is a policy introduced by the coalition Government to replace the previous Government’s Three Waters reform programme. 

It empowers communities and councils to determine how their water services will be delivered in the future. 

We have managed our water services comparatively well but, across the country, councils are grappling with rising costs, ageing infrastructure, and the increasing demands of a growing population. 

Local Water Done Well will see water services remain under local government control, while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting economic, environmental and water-quality regulatory requirements. 

Councils have been investigating several options for water service delivery into the future and must submit a Water Services Delivery Plan to the Government in early September 2025. 

This plan must demonstrate our commitment to deliver water services in a way that: 

  • ensures we will meet all relevant regulatory quality standards for our water services 
  • is financially sustainable for us and our community 
  • ensures we will meet all drinking water quality standards 
  • supports our housing growth and urban development, as specified in our Long Term Plan.

The policy also encourages councils to work with neighbouring districts on solutions that could benefit larger regions. 

What does this mean for Whangārei?

Whangārei District Council has used funding from ratepayers to invest heavily in water infrastructure in the past and, compared with many other councils, we are in good shape to meet our District’s current and future water service needs. 

We have been investigating several options for water services delivery, which may include retaining an in-house business unit with some adjustments, creating a single council-owned water organisation, or a multi-owned water organisation with our Northland neighbours. 

Once these options have been considered by the Mayor and Councillors, we will be asking for your feedback. We expect this will happen toward the end of March or in early April 2025. 

For more information about Local Water Done Well, visit the Department of Internal Affairs website:  

Water Services Policy and Legislation (dia.govt.nz) 

Our timeline

  • March 2025: Finalise modelling of different options 
  • 27 March 2025: Councillors vote on preferred option 
  • Late March and throughout April 2025: Consultation period
  • June 2025: Council decides future delivery model for water services 
  • Before 3 September 2025: Council adopts Water Services Delivery Plan and submits to Government 
  • October 2025: Government decides whether to accept our Water Services Delivery Plan 
  • November 2025 to July 2027: Implementation period 
  • July 2028: Our Water Services Delivery Plan is effective and proven to be financially sustainable.
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