Kawerau District Council is working with Rotorua Lakes, Ōpōtiki, and Whakatāne District Councils to assess a potential multi-council grouping for water services under the Government’s Local Water Done Well framework. A working group including all four mayors is now moving into more detailed technical work ahead of community consultation later in 2025. This collaboration is being explored despite Kawerau having already adopted an in-house business unit model for delivering its drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services.
Following community consultation between April and May 2025, Kawerau District Council received 107 responses, with 103 supporting the in-house business unit delivery model. The Council formally adopted its Water Services Delivery Plan in September 2025, and the Department of Internal Affairs accepted the plan in October 2025. While proceeding with in-house delivery, Council resolved to continue exploring collaboration opportunities with the three neighbouring councils.
The Local Water Done Well legislation requires all councils to establish a financially sustainable corporate structure for water services delivery. Kawerau’s plan involves approximately 30 million dollars in planned investment through to 2034, including 13.5 million dollars for drinking water, 15 million dollars for wastewater, and additional investment for the Stoneham Park Development. Key projects include replacing aging steel and AC pipes, installing a manganese removal plant in 2026, and ongoing reticulation replacement programmes.
The in-house business unit is scheduled to become a structurally separate entity by 1 July 2028, with its own annual and long-term plans, strategies, and finance structure. Before this transition, Council will adopt a separate Long Term Plan for water services by 30 June 2027, along with separate infrastructure strategy and asset management plan documentation.
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.
