Porirua Backs Regional Approach To Water Services Delivery

Scoop

a day ago

Porirua City Council's Te Puna Kōrero committee has endorsed a joint regional approach for water services delivery.
As part of the Local Water Done Well reform, the Government has mandated that councils must review how water services are delivered.
Te Puna Kōrero met this morning to deliberate and made a recommendation to Council, after consulting on two options for a future water services delivery model - a new water services organisation, or a modified version of the status quo.
They voted unanimously to recommend that Council should jointly establish and co-own a new water organisation with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Under this model, a multi-council-owned water organisation will take ownership of public water assets. The alternative was a modified version of the current Wellington Water model, where councils retain ownership while Wellington Water manages water services.
That recommendation will need to be endorsed at the full Council meeting on 26 June.
All five councils are independently making decisions by the end of June on how to proceed.
Officers will then develop a joint Water Services Delivery Plan and foundation documents for the new organisation, which must be lodged with the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September 2025.
The intention is that Council will transfer its assets, debt, liabilities and services in relation to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater to the new organisation by1 July 2026.
In making today's decision, the committee unanimously supported an amendment from Councillor Geoff Hayward, setting out the principles Porirua City wants reflected in the new organisation's foundation documents.
These include recognising water as a public good, safeguarding households from disconnection, value for money, fair pricing, supporting local employment, and upholding Te Mana o te Wai.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said like many parts of the country, Porirua's water networks faced significant challenges.
"We have old pipes that cause water leaks, contribute to water shortages and are a main contributor to pollution in the harbour.
"While we've poured all the money we can into funding water assets, we simply can't address these challenges on our own. Doing nothing is not an option, and we believe the new model is the best way forward for Porirua."