Whakatane District Council is working through the government’s Local Water Done Well programme to determine how it will deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services in the future. The council is exploring whether to continue managing these services in-house through an Internal Business Unit or join with Kawerau District Council, Opotiki District Council, and Rotorua Lakes District Council to form a joint Water Services Council Controlled Organisation. Following consultation with the community in April 2025 and completion of a technical investigation in August 2026, the council has identified a Multi-Council-Controlled Organisation as its preferred option.
The council plans to invest $261.7 million in water services over the next decade to meet new regulatory requirements, maintain service levels, and support future growth. This investment covers approximately 957 kilometres of pipes, 18 treatment plants, and 94 pump stations across the district. Public consultation on the preferred delivery model is scheduled to run from 7 October to 9 November 2026, with a final decision to be confirmed on 25 November 2026.
Local Water Done Well is the central government’s replacement for the previous Three Waters Reform programme and allows councils to decide how to deliver water services while meeting increasing regulatory standards. The reform was prompted by the 2016 Havelock North drinking water contamination outbreak, which exposed significant challenges across New Zealand’s water infrastructure. All councils must now demonstrate how they will meet regulatory requirements, fund future investment, and continue delivering quality water services.
Whether Whakatāne District Council retains water services in-house or moves to a Multi-Council-Controlled Organisation, the council has committed to continuing to provide quality services to residents and ratepayers. The council has run a community education campaign called ‘Wai – It Matters’ to help residents understand the infrastructure and processes behind water service delivery as these significant changes unfold.
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Source: Whakatane 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.
