FAQs
About the change
The decision has been made – why does it take a while to change?
It takes time to set the organisation up properly and to manage the transition from four councils into one new organisation. For example, we need to recruit new people, develop new IT systems, and put new governance structures in place – all of this takes time to do properly and in a way that minimises risks for customers and the community
Who will make decisions about water services?
When Waitī Waters is operational (from 1 July 2027), the Board and management of the company will have responsibility for the provision of water infrastructure and delivery of services in the region and will make all operational decisions.
The Waitī Water's strategy and investment plans will be set out in its Water Services Strategy which will be a publicly available document. The Strategy will need to be consistent with the priorities set by Councils and iwi in the Statement of Expectations.
What is a Council-controlled organisation – there seems to be a lot of talk about this?
A CCO is an organisation that is established by a Council (or group of Councils) as a separate legal entity. Ultimately a CCO is accountable to the Council (or Councils) that are the shareholders of the company, but is run independently, with independent management and governance.
Is a CCO the first step to privatisation?
No. A CCO is not the first step towards privatisation. A Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO), while being a separate legal entity, is wholly owned by Councils and is still accountable to the Council or Councils that own them. For Waitī Waters, that is the four Councils across Masterton, Carterton, Tararua and South Wairarapa.
Under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, water organisations and assets are not permitted to be privatised. While Waitī Waters will run independently day-to-day, the expectations for Waitī Waters are set by the four Councils and iwi partners. Waitī Waters' performance will be regularly reported back to the Stakeholder Forum to ensure it is visible to ratepayers and publicly reported to regulators.
Is Waitī Waters part of the Government’s proposed local council amalgamation?
No. Waitī Waters and the proposed local council amalgamation are separate. Waitī Waters is about providing safe and reliable water infrastructure and services in South Wairarapa, Tararua, Carterton and Masterton. From 1 July 2027, Waitī Waters will look after drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services for these communities.
Council amalgamation is different. It is about whether some local councils should join together to become one larger council which could change how they are set up and how local decisions are made. If Councils were to decide to amalgamate, this would change which Councils are shareholders of Waitī Waters. But it would not be expected to have any other impact on Waitī Waters operations, or how it delivers services for the Wairarapa and Tararua communities.
If you would like to know more about the amalgamation process and what it could mean for your area, please visit your local council website:
South Wairarapa: Simplifying local government - SWDC
Carterton: Amalgamation - and what this might mean for Carterton
Masterton: Future of Local Government community survey results - Masterton District Council
Tararua: Reform of Local Government | Tararua District Council
What is the Statement of Expectations and Water Services Strategy?
Under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, shareholders of water organisations (in our case Carterton, Masterton, Tararua and South Wairarapa Councils) are required to set out their expectations of water organisations in a Statement of Expectations. These are documents with a 10-year focus and play an important role in guiding the investment decisions, planning and delivery priorities of a water organisation. The Statement of Expectations is available here.
When the water organisation receives the Statement of Expectations from shareholders, it must then develop a Water Services Strategy, which is a 10-year delivery plan, to demonstrate how it intends to give effect to the shareholders' direction and expectations. The Water Services Strategy will be available for public feedback and will be provided to the economic and environmental regulators (Commerce Commission and Taumata Arowai) to demonstrate that Waitī Waters is meeting regulatory requirements.
The Water Services Strategy will be available for public feedback in early 2027.
Will current council water staff move to Waitī Waters?
Council staff in water-related roles have had confirmed pathways arranged to transition their employment to Waitī Waters. This provides greater certainty for affected staff and helps shape our emerging organisation ahead of 1 July 2027.
Retaining the expertise, experience and local knowledge within existing Council water teams is an important part of ensuring we have a smooth transition. Carrying their knowledge into Waitī Waters will help maintain continuity of service and support safe, reliable water services for our communities.
CCO versus Privatisation – are they one and the same?
No. A Council-Controlled organisation (CCO) is controlled and owned by a Council, or in the case of Waitī Waters, owned by four partner Councils. Waitī Waters must report to the Stakeholder Forum made up of representatives from each of the partner Councils, plus iwi partners Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu.
Working with councils, iwi and communities
Who is on the Stakeholders Forum?
The Stakeholders’ Forum is the representative group of Councils and iwi that provides oversight of the company. The Forum members are – Mayor Scott Gilmore (TDC), Mayor Fran Wilde (SWDC), Deputy Mayor Craig Bowyer (Chair, MDC), Councillor Brian Deller (CDC), Tipene Chrisp (Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust), Robin Potangaroa (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust).
Do Councils continue to have a role in providing water services?
No Councils will not continue to provide water services like they do now. Councils become shareholders in Waitī Waters and the company will be responsible for delivering water services and managing the water assets. In their role as shareholders, Councils do retain important influence over Waitī Waters and are required under legislation to set expectations for Waitī Waters - these expectations are set out in a Statement of Expectations.
The first expectation for Waitī Waters has just been completed and is available here. More information on the legislative requirements for Statements of Expectations is available here.
What role do iwi play in Waitī Waters?
As Waitī Waters transitions to becoming operational on 1 July 2027, we remain committed to working alongside iwi. Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu are mana whenua across Wairarapa and Tararua and have partnered with the four Councils in establishing Waitī Waters. Waitī Waters intends to continue this approach at both a governance and operational level, recognising the role of iwi as kaitiaki of water resources and upholding Treaty settlement obligations.
Waitī Waters is owned by the four shareholding Councils and overseen by a Stakeholders’ Forum with representatives from each of the four Councils as well as Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu partners. Our name, Waitī Waters, was also developed in consultation with mana whenua and reflects the importance of freshwater to life and wellbeing.
How can the community have a say or give feedback on Waitī Waters' plans?
Our Water Services Strategy is expected to be publicly available for feedback in early 2027. Closer to the time, we will provide details about how the community can provide feedback.
Until then, communities can stay up to date through our website and by joining the mailing list for our monthly newsletter. You can also contact our team on: info@waitiwaters.co.nz
Will there be public reporting on Waitī Waters' performance?
Yes. Waitī Waters’ strategy and investment plans will be set out in a publicly available Water Services Strategy in early 2027. Our performance will be monitored against expectations set by the Councils and iwi through the Statement of Expectations and the Stakeholders’ Forum. Information will also be provided to the Commerce Commission and Taumata Arowai who are the regulators of Waitī Waters.
What it means for you
Will water services be affected by the change?
Maintaining continuity of service for the community is the most important objective of the transition. Drinking water and wastewater services will continue as normal.
You won’t notice much about the change apart from your water bill, which will come from Waitī Waters rather than your council, when it is up and running.
Is my drinking water safe during the transition?
Yes. Your drinking water and wastewater services will continue as normal during the transition. Your local council remains responsible for delivering water services until Waitī Waters begins operating on 1 July 2027, and maintaining safe, reliable services is a key priority throughout this period.
Will I still pay my water bill at council?
No, Waitī Waters will send you your water bill from July 2027. You will no longer pay for water services in your rates bill.
We will provide you with more information closer to July 2027 about how you will be able to pay your bill. Until then, the four Councils continue to be responsible for water services delivery, and you pay your water bill through your rates.
What happens if I have a leak, fault or water quality issue?
Until Waitī Waters begins operating on 1 July next year, your local council remain responsible for delivering water services. Please continue to use your current council processes for reporting leaks, faults or water quality issues.
Why is South Wairarapa District Council switching who manages their water delivery services this year, in 2026?
Since 2019, Wellington Water Ltd (WWL) has managed water, wastewater, and stormwater services for South Wairarapa District Council. From 1 July 2026, WWL will operate as Tiaki Wai (Metro Water) to serve several Wellington councils, and South Wairarapa District Council will exit Wellington Water. This creates a one-year gap for South Wairarapa District Council before Waitī Waters is operational from 1 July 2027. Beginning in July 2026, water services to South Wairarapa District Council will be provided by Citycare Water and then from July 2027, South Wairarapa’s water services (along with water services for Masterton, Carterton and Tararua Councils) will transfer to Waitī Waters.
What can customers expect from Waitī Waters’ prices and billing?
We know the South Wairarapa, Carterton, Masterton and Tararuacommunity will have questions about how Waitī Waters charges will be calculated, what future bills may look like, and how different properties or water arrangements may be treated. Getting this clarity for you is a top priority, but as you can imagine there is quite a bit of work to be done to offer that clarity.
Our promise to you is that we’ll share clear information on pricing and billing as soon as we can, so, whether you have a house or run a business, you’ll know what to expect before Waitī Waters begins managing water services from 1 July 2027.
Can I opt out?
This is a region-wide change, and the decision was taken by the four Councils following community consultation. The company will provide water services to all connected water users in the region.
When this page is viewed in te reo Māori, the content is translated using a general translation service. It does not reflect the regional dialects (mita). Or the specific vocabulary and nuances of individual iwi and hapū. Automated translation may also contain errors or miss cultural context.