Waikato District Council ratepayers will receive their rates invoices this week, and the documents will look different due to the transfer of water services to IAWAI. Since 1 July 2026, water and wastewater fixed charges are no longer council rates, as IAWAI has taken over responsibility for providing drinking water and wastewater services to Hamilton and Waikato communities. While the charges now appear separately on the same invoice, the actual services provided have not changed.
The calculation method for water and wastewater charges remains the same, and ratepayers can continue to pay their invoices using their existing payment methods. Fixed connection and availability charges are still included within the three annual instalments, while metered water use charges continue to appear on six monthly usage invoices. If ratepayers already use automatic payments for rates, their water charges will also be paid automatically.
The water and wastewater charges have increased compared to the previous year when they were council rates. Water connection charges have risen from $562.52 to $594.02 (a 5.6% increase), while wastewater connection charges have increased from $1,785.87 to $1,896.59 (a 6.2% increase). Metered water consumption charges have also increased from $2.59 to $2.74 per cubic metre, representing a 5.8% rise.
Ratepayers who have questions about their rates and water charges can contact the Waikato District Council rates team via email at info@waidc.govt.nz. The council recommends putting “Water charges” in the subject line to ensure enquiries are directed appropriately. The council has also provided an example invoice to help ratepayers understand the new format.
Read the full article at Waikato District Council – News →
Source: Waikato 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.
