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Local Water Done Well

Overview 

The Local Water Done Well (LWDW) programme, started in February 2024, which replaced the former Three Waters Reform. The key points are:

  • The Three Waters legislation has been repealed.
  • Restoration of council ownership and control over water services including drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.
  • There are strict rules for water quality and infrastructure investment.
  • Water services must be financially sustainable.

All councils in New Zealand must create - Water Services Delivery Plans (WSDPs) outlining how they will provide and pay for water services. These plans must be submitted to the Secretary for Local Government by 3 September 2025 and demonstrate financial stability by 1 July 2028.

The plans need to follow government rules and show how we will keep our water clean and healthy while achieving financial sustainability. In Taranaki, the district councils are working together to find the best way to deliver water services via the Water Services Delivery for Taranaki Project.

 

What is a Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP)?

  • Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) is a plan to demonstrate how we can provide water services while we:
  1. Meet our level of services.
  2. Meet all regulatory and drinking water quality standards.
  3. Ensure financial sustainability by 1 July 2028.
  4. Unlock housing growth and urban development as specified in the Long-Term Plan (LTP).
  • The plan must cover the consultation process and be adopted by council resolution. It can cover up to a 30-year outlook but requires a minimum of a 10-year period.

 

What's happening now?

We're accepting submissions on three options for water services delivery up until 5pm Friday 30 May 2025. 

These are a Joint Water Services Council-Council Organisation (WSCCO) with Stratford and South Taranaki District councils, an NPDC WSCCO or our own in-house business unit. Please note that we are also submitting a separate WSDP for Stormwater, as our proposed options include only drinking water and wastewater services.

Draft Water Service Delivery Plans for our proposed options: 

 

Find out more and have your say 

 

Timeline

  • Public Consultation - 30 April - 30 May 2025.
  • Hearing held - 1 July to 2 July (two days).
  • Council Meeting - 22 July: Council considers submissions and determines an option.
  • WSDP Submission deadline - 3 September.

 

The Legislation

  • The Local Water Done Well: Three-Stage Legislation Process:
  1. The Water Services Acts Repeal Act 2024: Water Services Acts Repeal Act 2024 No 2 (as at 17 February 2025), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation.
  2. The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024: Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 No 31, Public Act Part 1 Preliminary provisions – New Zealand Legislation.
  3. Local Government (Water Services) Bill Local Government (Water Services) Bill 108-1 (2024), Government Bill Explanatory note – New Zealand Legislation.

 

Council Meetings related to LWDW