Four Bay of Plenty councils have completed a technical investigation into sharing water services delivery under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms. Kawerau District Council, Rotorua Lakes District Council, Whakatane District Council, and Opotiki District Council received a final report on 17 August 2026 examining options for a joint Water Services Council Controlled Organisation. The report, prepared by consultants Martin Jenkins, assessed whether a shared arrangement could deliver better outcomes than the current in-house model over a 30-year period.
The investigation tested three delivery models for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services. An internal business unit, the current approach, would meet statutory requirements for the next 10 years but faces significant long-term sustainability challenges. An asset-owning Water Services Council Controlled Organisation showed the strongest potential to deliver against agreed objectives, though it requires further financial analysis and development of governance mechanisms. A service delivery only Council Controlled Organisation was considered unlikely to be sustainable due to added complexity.
The assessment examined whether each model could deliver efficient and financially sustainable services, meet regulatory requirements, provide resilience to natural hazards and climate change, and support integrated infrastructure planning. It also considered affordability, community expectations, and council obligations to hapū and iwi. The report provides an overview of current service delivery across the four districts, including asset condition, planned investment, compliance requirements, and key risks.
Each council will now determine its preferred option and undertake consultation or other community engagement before making a final decision. The four councils are expected to decide next month on their preferred options and decision timeframes. This follows community consultation in 2025, when the councils committed to investigating a potential shared approach while recognising each district has unique needs and priorities.
Read the full article at Kawerau District Council – News →
Source: Kawerau District Council – News. This summary was published by Input Ltd via amalgamation.nz, New Zealand’s central resource for local government amalgamation news and council merger updates.
