New chapter for water services

The establishment of Tiaki Wai starts a new chapter for water service delivery in the region.  It will have the resources, independence and region-wide perspective to effectively manage and improve water services for current and future communities rather than being limited by council funding, electoral and decision-making cycles.

The five shareholding councils decided to set up this new council-owned organisation in response to the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy and legislation.

The rationale for this decision and the pathway forward are set out in the Metropolitan Wellington Water Services Delivery Plan. A short overview of the plan is available here. 

This plan was accepted by Government in October 2025. The Department of Internal Affairs Assessment Report is available here.

Local water done well

Local Water Done Well is the Government's approach to improving the management of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater (the "three waters") services.

The key components are:

• Fit-for-purpose service delivery models and financing tools
• Ensuring water services are financially sustainable
• Introducing greater central government oversight, economic and quality regulation. 

Local Water Done Well encouraged councils to work together to create jointly owned water organisations to deliver water services. Councils were required to set our their plans for three waters services in a Water Services Delivery Plan by September 2025.