South Wairarapa District Council, along with Carterton District Council, Masterton District Council, and Tararua District Council, is working with iwi partners Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu to establish a joint water services Council-Controlled Organisation under the Local Government (Water Services) Bill. The new entity, called Wairarapa Tararua Water, would serve approximately 25,000 connections and take responsibility for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services and assets from the four partner councils by 1 July 2027. A new website has been launched to share information about the entity as establishment work continues through to mid-2027.
Community consultation on the proposed regional water services organisation was held in March and April 2025, with two options presented: the Wairarapa Tararua Water Services Organisation or retaining the status quo delivery model. Support for the regional model was strong, with 88 per cent of South Wairarapa submitters, 70 per cent of Carterton submitters, 60 per cent of Masterton submitters, and 65 per cent of Tararua submitters favouring the joint approach. Based on this feedback, South Wairarapa District Council resolved on 8 May 2025 to proceed with establishing the Wairarapa Tararua Water Services Organisation.
The initiative is part of the government’s Local Water Done Well framework, which requires all councils to prepare Water Services Delivery Plans showing how they will deliver safe, compliant, and financially sustainable water services over the next 10 years. Plans must be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September 2025 and must demonstrate financial sustainability by 30 June 2028. This means water services revenue must be sufficient to cover delivery costs, meet regulatory standards, and fund long-term investment in infrastructure.
All four Wairarapa and Tararua councils are set to consider their Water Services Delivery Plans on 20 August 2025. If one council decides not to approve the joint plan, the councils can request a Crown Facilitator from the Department of Internal Affairs to assist with negotiations and develop solutions that address financial sustainability and affordability. The government has indicated a preference for regional solutions to deliver sustainable water services under the new regulatory framework.
Read the full article at South Wairarapa District Council – News →
Source: South Wairarapa 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.
