Local Water Done Well consultation
Learn more about the Local Water Done Well consultation with our community.
Navigating new waters
Waipā's water services are moving to Waikato Waters on July 1, 2026.
What this means for our community
- Everyday services stay the same: Your water will keep running and your toilets will keep flushing.
- Behind the scenes: Waikato Waters Limited will manage the pipes, treatment plants, and long-term planning for drinking water and wastewater services.
- Working together: Councils across the Waikato are working together to future-proof water services for our communities.
What's happening?
- From July 1 2026, Waipā District Council will transfer the management of drinking water and wastewater services to Waikato Waters Limited. WWL is owned by seven councils, including Waipā.
- Working together with other Waikato councils means sharing resources, planning together, and preparing for future growth.
- Waipā District Council will continue to manage stormwater for now while long-term arrangements are confirmed.
What’s changing and what’s not
What's not changing
- Your day-to-day water services.
- Council oversight and community voice.
- Billing and customer contact, for now.
What’s changing
- Waikato Waters will manage and plan drinking water and wastewater services.
- Services will be organised across the Waikato rather than by each council working alone.
Why this is happening
- Water services nationwide face ageing pipes, stricter regulations, population growth, climate impacts and rising costs.
- Working together helps councils plan ahead and keep services reliable as communities grow.
- Waipā District Council will still have oversight and a community voice through its shareholding in Waikato Waters.
Background
What is Waikato Waters?
Waikato Waters Limited, previously know as Waikato Water Done Well, is a water services delivery model developed to meet the requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well legislation.
Seven councils - Waipā, Matamata-Piako, Hauraki, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, South Waikato, and Taupō - have teamed up to form Waikato Waters Limited (WWL), a council-controlled organisation (CCO).
WWL will take over local water services in phased stages between 2026 and 2027.
From July 1, 2026, Waipā, Waitomo, and South Waikato District Councils will transfer their water assets and day-to-day water operations to WWL.
Why does this change matter?
The way we manage water is evolving to prepare for the future. Through Waikato Waters Limited, councils can deliver services that are safer, more reliable, and built for long-term sustainability. For Waipā, this is an opportunity to strengthen resilience and efficiency - while keeping communities at the heart of every decision
How did we get here?
Local Water Done Well
After the previous government’s Three Waters legislation was repealed in 2023, the coalition government introduced Local Water Done Well (LWDW) in 2024, supported by the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024.
LWDW was developed in response to issues highlighted by the 2017 Havelock North water contamination inquiry, which revealed significant nationwide risks in the management of drinking water. The new framework aims to strengthen long term infrastructure planning and ensure water services meet national health, environmental and regulatory standards. It also updates investment, borrowing and pricing rules.
As part of these changes, councils were required to prepare a Water Services Delivery Plan. You can read Waipā’s plan on the next tab
Waikato Water Done Well – now Waikato Waters Limited.
In response to Local Water Done Well, seven Waikato councils — Waipā, Matamata Piako, Hauraki, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, South Waikato and Taupō — partnered with mana whenua to develop a regional water service model known as Waikato Water Done Well, now Waikato Waters Ltd (WWL).
Consultation with our community
Council’s decision to join Waikato Waters followed extensive public consultation in May–June 2025 (at the time, WWL was known as Waikato Water Done Well).
Three options were considered:
- joining WWL
- forming a sub‑regional partnership
- continuing to deliver services independently
The WWL option received the strongest support across 108 submissions and 20 engagement events. Key themes included affordability, maintaining a local voice, partnership with mana whenua, and concerns about potential privatisation.
On Friday, July 18 2025, Council unanimously agreed to join WWL and adopted its Water Services Delivery Plan.
Transition planning is now well underway, with a dedicated programme team preparing our assets, people, systems and services for transfer.
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Water Services Delivery Plan
What is a Water Services Delivery Plan?
A Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) is a required plan under the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024. It shows how a council will provide safe, reliable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services now and into the future. The plan explains what infrastructure is needed, how much investment is required, how it will be funded, and how national standards will be met while supporting community growth.
Waipā’s Water Services Delivery Plan
Waipā's Water Services Delivery Plan sets out how Waipā will deliver sustainable, compliant water services under the Government’s Local Water Done Well framework. It confirms Council’s decision to join Waikato Waters Limited (a council-controlled organisation established by Waipā, Matamata-Piako, Hauraki, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, South Waikato and Taupō District Council) to deliver drinking water and wastewater services across the region. The plan explains how this regional model keeps services publicly owned, builds resilience, and enables long-term investment while retaining a strong local voice.
Stay updated
Water services transfer timeline
Waikato Waters newsletter updates
Stay informed with the latest updates featured in the newsletters.
December 2025: WWL Newsletter Kōrero Wai
Councils
Who's involved?
Seven councils - Waipā, Matamata-Piako, Hauraki, Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, South Waikato, and Taupō - are teaming up to form Waikato Waters Limited (WWL).
What’s happening and when?
Councils will move their water services to WWL in stages throughout 2026-2027:
- Waipā, Waitomo, and South Waikato – 1 July 2026: These councils will transfer their water assets and day-to-day water operations to WWL.
- Matamata-Piako – 1 October 2026: Matamata-Piako will follow later in 2026, completing a similar transfer process.
- Ōtorohanga and Hauraki – 1 July 2027: These councils will transition in 2027.
- Taupō: Taupō will remain a shareholder in WWL but will continue delivering water services itself for now, while collaborating with WWL on shared projects.
Select the icons below on the map to view the Local Water Done Well consultations for the seven Councils forming the council-controlled organisation.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Waikato Waters Limited was incorporated on Monday, July 28.
The programme team is based at 149 Ossie James Drive, near Hamilton Airport while they work through the transition phases. A permanent location is yet to be confirmed.
Waipā will transfer its water assets to Waikato Water on July 1, 2026.
Waitomo and South Waikato will also join on July 1, 2026. Matamata-Piako will join on October1, 2026 and Otorohanga and Hauraki July 1, 2027. The six councils will be stage two shareholders.
Taupō District Council will join Waikato Waters as a shareholder in a limited capacity. Under this option, it will continue to deliver water services in-house but will collaborate with Waikato Waters and obtain services from it (this may include procurement and some shared services). They will review their position again in two years’ time.
A chief executive will be appointed following the establishment of the board.
In August, the Shareholders Representative Forum (made up of the seven district Mayors) appointed a board chair and two directors.
The Chair, Elena Trout, is joined by directors Jon Lamonte and Jaydene Kana.
