Tiaki Wai Metro Water will be better set up to do the job of providing drinking water and managing wastewater and piped stormwater than Wellington Water because it will own the assets, and have more independence and access to more funding, rather than being limited by council budgets or political cycles.

It will have greater borrowing capacity than councils do, allowing more investment in water infrastructure over a longer period.

It will have responsibility for investment decision-making and risk management, and the ability to take a regional view when making decisions and setting priorities.

It will have a direct relationship with customers when they have a question or report a fault, rather than via councils.

Property owners will pay directly for water services, rather than indirectly through rates, and Metro Water will be able to set and collect development contributions from property developers.

To ensure critical work continues, Tiaki Wai Metro Water will take on Wellington Water staff.

The legal name Tiaki Wai Metro Water reflects that the organisation is a partnership between shareholding councils and mana whenua iwi Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika.

Tiaki Wai in Te Reo Māori means carers for water. This name captures the intent to deliver safe, reliable, environmentally and financially sustainable water services in a way that restores te mana o te wai. The name has been gifted by mana whenua.

Metro Water remains part of the legal name to capture that the new organisation will work across metropolitan Wellington.

The network infrastructure, with a replacement value of about $18 billion, will be transferred from councils to Tiaki Wai Metro Water ownership. Because Tiaki Wai Metro Water is owned by the five shareholding councils, the assets remain in public ownership.

No. Protections against asset sales and privatisation of the company are embedded into the Constitution and Partners’ Agreement, which are due to be finalised in December 2025. Legislation also further prevents privatisation.

The Partners Committee, made up of representatives of the five shareholding councils and mana whenua, will hold Tiaki Wai Metro Water to account on behalf of the people they represent.

The Partners Committee will set direction in a Statement of Expectations and monitor performance.

There will also be increased central Government economic and water quality regulation.

• The Commerce Commission, which will monitor compliance with economic regulations for customer protection and price.
• The Water Service Authority – Taumata Arowai, which will ensure compliance with drinking and wastewater standards.
• Greater Wellington Regional Council will continue to oversee environmental compliance.
• The Department of Internal Affairs will continue to monitor and seek assurance that the water organisation continues to be financially sufficient and meeting the obligations of the water services legislation.

Yes. While Tiaki Wai Metro Water will operate independently, councils will continue to have a say. The main way this will happen is through the Statement of Expectations from the Partners Committee, which will be made up of representatives of the five shareholding councils and mana whenua partners. The Statement of Expectations will set out Partners’ priorities and what they expect Tiaki Wai Metro Water to deliver.

For now, until 1 July 2026, you should continue to contact your local council. Updated contact information will be available closer to the time.

(October 2025)

Yes. To date, property owners pay for water infrastructure through their council rates.From 1 July 2026, property owners will pay directly to Tiaki Wai Metro Water.

Charges are to cover the cost of the infrastructure networks that deliver drinking water and remove wastewater and stormwater, not for the water itself.

While property owners are currently paying for this through their rates, from 1 July 2026 they will pay Tiaki Wai Metro Water direct. The charges will fund day-to-day operation and maintenance of pipes, pump stations, drinking water and wastewater treatment plants and associated infrastructure; and long-term investment in renewals, upgrades, and new infrastructure. This includes leak reduction, improved wastewater treatment, and improving the resilience of the network.

Tiaki Wai Metro Water is expected to borrow to fund new investment, spreading the cost to customers over the life of the asset.

Over time, customer charges will increase, to meet the cost of delivering reliable and sustainable water services.

For the first financial year (2026/27), property owners can expect water charges to be in line with what they would have paid as part of their rates bill..

The Water Services Delivery Plan forecasts that average residential charges will rise from $2,100 per connection today to between $4,800 and $5,700 by 2034. These numbers are estimates and will evolve as Tiaki Wai Metro Water develops and refines its plans.

The exact amount to be charged each year depends on the pace of delivering maintenance and upgrades, and the level of cost recovery from new developments.

The forecast cost increases are around a third less than increases likely if the status quo continued, because of Metro Water’s greater borrowing capacity and efficiency gains, but will still present a challenge for many households. Tiaki Wai Metro Water will be considering options to help low-income households manage the cost of water services.

The approach to calculating water charges will develop over several years. Currently households and commercial water users pay different amounts in each city, based on how their rates are calculated.

Initially, water charges will reflect each area’s actual service costs and existing pricing structures. There will be a transition over time toward a common price (where pricing is substantially the same across the whole metropolitan area). There is also expected to be a transition to volumetric charging (where prices are set based on the amount of water used) once water meters are installed. Wastewater and stormwater will likely be mostly fixed-charge services.

More information will be provided before charging is introduced.

(October 2025)

Over time, water meters will be rolled out across the metropolitan area, but it will take several years. Meters are central to managing demand and deferring the need for costly new water sources. They help customers to understand and manage their water use. They also help more quickly find leaks in the network and on private property. Meters also allow for volumetric charging (that is, paying a charge based on the amount used).

Planning is underway with final decisions to be made by the Tiaki Wai Metro Water Board in due course.

More than 60% of New Zealand is already metered, including Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch and more locally Kāpiti. Cities in New Zealand with water meters report significant reductions in water loss and residential usage.

Charges need to rise because the region’s water infrastructure has been under-funded for decades and now requires major work. Around $6.8 billion over 10 years (and $25 billion over 30 years) is needed to replace aging pipes, meet modern standards, and support growth. Without higher charges, essential work won’t be able to be done.