Local Water Done Well
Latest News and Updates
NEW NORTH CANTERBURY WATER ENTITY APPOINTS CEO - May 11th 2026
Seeking stability, strong leadership and a people-focus, the Board of the newly established Kaikōura Hurunui Water Services Ltd (KHWS) has appointed Benjamin Day to the Chief Executive Officer role.
Bringing close to 20 years of senior leadership experience across local government and the infrastructure and services sector, Ben has most recently been working alongside Kaikōura District Council as Service Delivery Manager, responsible for Three Waters, roading, parks, solid waste and community facilities. During this time, he has led business-as-usual delivery while supporting the transition of water services into the new Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO).
Kaikōura Hurunui Water Services CEO Benjamin Day
What's Happening?
Central Government has reviewed the regulation and supply of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater (the three waters) in New Zealand. The Three Waters Reform Programme is being led by the Department for Internal Affairs.
You can read the final joint KDC and HDC Water Services Delivery Plan by clicking on the following link:
Final Joint KDC & HDC Water Services Delivery Plan
Kaikōura Hurunui Water Services Newsletters
From 1 July 2026, Kaikōura Hurunui Water Services will have full responsibility for ongoing delivery and management of Three Waters services across Hurunui and Kaikōura Districts. We've produced a newsletter to give you an update on the transition and how 2026-27 costs will align with the 2024-34 Long Term Plan.
Media Releases:
Media Release 9th February 2026
Media Release 15th January 2026
Media Release 17th December 2025
Media Release 27th November 2025
Media Release 29th October 2025
Media Release 19th September 2025
What is proposed by the Government?
The review, which began in 2017 and was sparked by the campylobacteriosis outbreak in Havelock North in 2016, and has already delivered new legislation and the creation of Taumata Arowai, a new Water Services Regulator, to oversee and enforce a new drinking water regulatory framework, with additional oversight of wastewater and stormwater networks.
Most three waters assets and services in New Zealand are owned and delivered by local councils.
While addressing the regulatory issues, both central and local government have identified under-investment in three waters infrastructure in parts of the country and persistent affordability issues for ratepayers, as well as the need for additional investment to meet improvements in freshwater outcomes and increase resilience to climate change and natural hazards.
The initial proposal was to hand water services from the 67 councils who currently manage services. into four big regional water authorities. One entity was proposed to cover the Ngāi Tahu takiwa (All of the South Island excluding Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman).
Ownership would remain with Councils (mandated by legislation) and there would be protection to ensure the water entities do not become privatised without a public referendum with a 75 percent threshold.
However, on 14 December 2023 the Government announced a new direction for water services.
On 12 February 2024 the Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown announced the establishment of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide expert advice on the implementation of Local Water Done Well.
You can read the Minister’s press release here: Government advances Local Water Done Well - 12 February 2024
Where are we at in the process?
In December 2023 the Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown confirmed a new direction for water services policy and legislation Local Water Done Well.
On 12 February 2024 the Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown announced the establishment of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide expert advice on the implementation of Local Water Done Well.
You can find more information on the Department of Internal Affairs Website.
Joint Water Services Delivery Plan Approved by DIA.
Date: 19/09/2025
A joint plan for the delivery of water services in the Kaikōura and Hurunui districts has received the green light from the Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
Following consultation with their communities earlier in the year, the two councils submitted a joint Water Services Delivery Plan to the DIA in early August. The Plan provides for the two councils to establish a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) which will provide services across the two districts. The new standalone WSCCO will be 100% owned by the two councils.
You can read the final joint KDC and HDC Water Services Delivery Plan by clicking on the following link: Final Joint KDC & HDC Water Services Delivery Plan
North Canterbury Working Together on Three Waters
North Canterbury councils are collaborating on what the future for Three Waters might look like when central government passes legislation later this year.
Local Water Done Well, is central government’s new policy for water reform, and will require changes to the structure of water services and provision nationwide. Once the legislation passes later this year, each Council will have 12 months to create a Water Services Delivery Plan that details how they will meet higher standards, investment, and regulations.
The new policy allows for local solutions and arrangements to be made to address water infrastructure needs while, importantly, maintaining local ownership and representation.
For these reasons Hurunui, Kaikōura, and Waimakariri District councils have been working with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and looking at options ahead of time to see what could achieve these outcomes while still having tangible local say about future direction and investment.
What is the latest from Government?
Updated 2 September
Various Ministers of Local Government have also issues a number of press releases relating to the Reform proposal. These can be found here:
National/ACT/NZ First Three Waters statements:
- 27 August - Local Water Done Well bill passes
- 8 August 2024 - Unlocking Local Water Done Well: New water service delivery models
- 5 May 2024 - Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
- 5 April - Delivering on Local Water Done Well
- 14 February. Labour’s Three Waters legislation repealed
- 12 February 2024. Government advances Local Water Done Well
- 14 December 2023. Government to release Three Waters legislation
- The full list of media statements can be found here.
Labour Three Waters statements:
- February 2023. Government takes new direction with policy refocus
- December 2022. New legislation to provide affordable water services for New Zealanders
- December 2022. Next steps in securing affordable water services for New Zealanders
- November 2022. Changes make water reforms more workable for communities and councils
- July 2022. Government provides Three Waters support for councils
- June 2022. New legislation to improve water services and protect community ownership
- April 2022. Council ownership of waters entities confirmed
- March 2022. Government to consider three waters recommendations following Working Group report
- The full list of media statements can be found here.
What is the latest from Kaikо̄ura District Council?
Joint Water Services Delivery Plan Approved by DIA.
Date:
19/09/2025
A joint plan for the delivery of water services in the Kaikōura and Hurunui districts has received the green light from the Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
Following consultation with their communities earlier in the year, the two councils submitted a joint Water Services Delivery Plan to the DIA in early August. The Plan provides for the two councils to establish a Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) which will provide services across the two districts. The new standalone WSCCO will be 100% owned by the two councils.
Hurunui Council CEO, Hamish Dobbie, said “Having approval from the DIA means that we are able to move forward with establishing the new organisation”. It is proposed that the WSCCO will commence water services operations on 1 July 2026.
The Plan includes information about the financial outlook for the new WSCCO. There is a legislative requirement to collect sufficient revenue to cover the long-term costs of providing water services. In order to do this, the two councils will phase in a move to fully funding depreciation over the period to 2034.
The staged approach to fully funding depreciation is in line with the Long Term Plan for Hurunui District Council but is a new requirement for Kaikōura. Kaikōura Council CEO, Will Doughty, said: “While this will mean increases in water charges for customers, long term affordability has been a key consideration for both councils in terms of both delivery model selection and the development of the plan.”.
The two councils remain open to further opportunities to work with other councils.
