Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council have agreed to establish a joint Water Organisation to deliver water services under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms. The decision was made on 2 April 2026 following months of collaborative due diligence, and the new organisation is intended to be operational from 1 July 2027.
Kevin Lavery has been appointed as the Establishment Chief Executive of the new joint Water Organisation, beginning his role on 13 April 2026. His focus is on ensuring the organisation is set up to operate effectively from day one for staff, communities, and the councils it will serve. A Joint Committee has also been established to guide and support the establishment process, with three elected members from each council plus three iwi and hapū representatives to ensure cultural perspectives and Treaty commitments are embedded.
The Local Water Done Well reforms require councils to demonstrate that water services remain financially sustainable, high-quality, and well-managed for the future. Both councils submitted their Water Service Delivery Plans in September 2025, which were approved by the Secretary for Local Government. The councils determined that staying with the current model is not an option, as it does not meet the Government’s new financial sustainability rules, even though Western Bay’s water services are currently well-managed.
The establishment process included extensive due diligence on governance and shareholding arrangements, financial sustainability, and service delivery. A Joint Working Group with representatives from both councils and tangata whenua, chaired by Lyall Thurston, helped shape decisions to ensure cultural, environmental, and community values are at the heart of future water services. The new organisation will operate separately from the shareholding councils but will be guided by a Statement of Expectations set by the councils.
Read the full article at Western Bay of Plenty District Council – News →
Source: Western Bay of Plenty 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.
