Major structural change to the delivery of water services nationwide has been a focus of local and central government for some years.
A water contamination issue in Havelock North in 2016 was the catalyst for Government review and inquiry. In mid-2017 a Three Waters Review, in parallel to the Government review and inquiry, raised further questions about the effectiveness of the existing regulatory framework and about the capability and sustainability of New Zealand’s water service providers.
Following the inquiry and reviews, between 2020 and 2022 the Labour-led Government introduced new water regulations, a new regulatory body called Taumata Arowai and structural changes to delivery of water services. New entities were set to take over water services delivery from councils in what was known as the Three Waters reforms, where our planning for these reforms was well advanced.
Those plans were put on hold with the 2023 general election and the Three Waters reforms were subsequently repealed, to be replaced with Local Water Done Well in 2024.
