Upper Hutt City Council is implementing the Local Water Done Well reform programme following the repeal of the previous government’s Three Waters legislation. The Council has established Tiaki Wai Limited, a new Council-Controlled Organisation that will deliver water supply, wastewater, and stormwater services across Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Wellington from 1 July 2026. This regional approach replaces the previous government’s Water Services Entities model with a locally-governed alternative.
The reform process began in earnest in May 2025 when Council consulted on its preferred water service delivery model, receiving 104 submissions. In June 2025, Council confirmed it would establish and co-own Tiaki Wai Limited together with Porirua City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council, and Greater Wellington Regional Council. The joint Water Services Delivery Plan was adopted in August 2025 and approved by the Department of Internal Affairs in October 2025. The organisation will serve approximately 432,000 people across the Wellington metropolitan area.
The shift to a new delivery model addresses significant infrastructure challenges facing councils, including ageing infrastructure, increasing renewal costs, and rising insurance expenses. The Local Water Done Well programme requires councils to demonstrate how they will meet new regulatory requirements for water quality and infrastructure investment while maintaining financial sustainability. The reform follows the 2016 Havelock North campylobacter outbreak and subsequent government inquiry into drinking water safety.
In December 2025, Council approved the foundation documents for Tiaki Wai Limited, including its constitution and partners’ agreement. A joint committee representing all shareholding councils and mana whenua partners Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira has been established to oversee the transition. In February 2026, Council amended its Long Term Plan to remove water service delivery functions, financials, and assets in preparation for the 1 July 2026 transfer date.
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Source: Upper Hutt City 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.
