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• The Three Waters legislation has been repealed.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.

Where we are at

The Water Services Delivery for Taranaki Project, involving New Plymouth, Stratford, and South Taranaki councils, is now in the detailed analysis stage, and they will continue to investigate the regional approach for water services delivery. Workshops that was held across the councils in late 2024 covered these key topics:

1. Asset Ownership and Stormwater arrangements.
2. Governance and structural options for future organisation.
3. Pricing options and financial assumptions.

What's happening now?

While the councils are collaborating on producing the WSDP and analysis for the regional/Taranaki - Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) delivery model, each council is also preparing consultation materials of their status quo delivery model, or they can also identify other options it has considered to help the community understand why Council decided on the preferred model.

Timeline

• Council Meeting - 19 February: Council finalises options for Public Consultation.
• Council Meeting - 16 April: Council adopts the Consultation Document and approves its release.
• Public Consultation - 30 April - 30 May: Four weeks.
• 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.

• Key Ministerial press releases and other updates about Local Water Done Well: Water Services Policy News and updates - dia.govt.nz.
• For more information on the Act and WSDPs go to Department of Internal Affairs website.

Council Meetings related to LWDW

• 8 October 2024 Extraordinary Council - Water Service Delivery for Taranaki :  Read the report and minutes or view a recording of the meeting. 

• 16 December 2024 Council :  Read the report and minutes or view a recording of the meeting.

• 19 February 2025 Extraordinary Council - Local Water Done Well:  Read the report and minutes or view a recording of the meeting.