Local Government Water Services Bill decision 8 August

The legislation, the proposed Local Government Water Services Bill to implement the new water service delivery models and other enduring settings for Local Water Done Well, is expected to be introduced in December 2024 and passed by mid-2025. It is the third piece of legislation in the Government’s three-stage process for implementing Local Water Done Well.

This factsheet outlines the proposed Local Government Water Services Bill including:

  • A new delivery system for water services

    • An expanded range of water services delivery models for councils to choose from

    • Clear minimum requirements for water service providers

    • A new planning and accountability framework for water services

    • New financing options for councils from the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency

  • A new approach for managing urban stormwater with flexibility for councils to choose the arrangements that best suit their circumstances

  • New mechanisms for the Minister of Local Government to address problems facing local government water service providers.

  • A new regulatory regime for water services

  • A new economic regulation regime for local government water service providers, implemented by the Commerce Commission

    • Changing how Taumata Arowai operates

    • Referring to the ‘Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai’

    • Reducing the regulatory burden for drinking water suppliers

    • A change in approach to Te Mana o te Wai and requiring Taumata Arowai to take account of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and any regional plans prepared under the Resource Management Act 1991 that relate to freshwater

    • A new approach to wastewater standards so there will be a single standard, rather than a minimum or maximum.

The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill is currently before Parliament and is expected to be enacted in August 2024.

Further details about Local Water Done Well, the Water Services Policy legislation and process can be found on the Department of Internal Affairs website. Cabinet Committee papers on the decisions are also available on the DIA website.

Jane Penton