The South Waikato District Council has today approved to become a founding shareholder of Waikato Water Done Well.

Waikato Water Done Well will be a Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) jointly owned with six other local councils and will deliver drinking water and wastewater services in accordance with the Government’s Local Water Done Well reform. Council will retain the management of stormwater activity and continue to deliver stormwater services.

Following the full Council meeting on 25 June, South Waikato Mayor Gary Petley acknowledged the magnitude of the decision.

“This is one of the biggest decisions local councils across the motu have been asked to make for some time, and the amount of work that has gone into it reflects that,” Petley said.

He also acknowledged there were a range of passionate viewpoints on the issue. Council was presented with the 54 submissions that were made as part of the consultation process. "Some of them raised valid concerns about the plan but could not directly address the criteria which our Water Services Delivery Plan must meet for approval,” Petley said.

“As a Council it’s our job to make decisions in the best interests of the 25,000-plus who call the South Waikato home, and from the comprehensive work undertaken on this topic, it’s clear that joining Waikato Water Done Well was the right option for us,” he said.

All Councils participating in the establishment of Waikato Water Done Well will gain from the CCO. Some small Councils will gain the benefit of greater cashflow and the ability to attract and retain in-house expertise as well as savings from having a larger footprint in the market. Councils will also have greater borrowing capacity to fund new infrastructure.

Participating councils will transfer their assets to the new entity and will have control of all the assets through the Shareholders’ Agreement.

Under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reform, all Councils across New Zealand are required to submit an approved plan to the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September 2025.

Notes:

• The seven councils that signed the heads of agreement to set up Waikato Water Done Well in December 2024 are South Waikato District Council, Hauraki District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, Ōtorohanga District Council, Taupō District Council, Waipā District Council and Waitomo District Council.
• Most shareholding Councils will have made a decision by the end of the week. Taupō District Council will be going with an in-house service delivery model and will revisit their decision to become part of the WWDW family for services in two years' time.
• Waikato Water Done Well was identified as the South Waikato District Council’s preferred option on March 26 this year. Consultation with the community was conducted between 14 April to 12 May. There were 54 submissions in total – 53 online and one paper submission. Of these, seven were in favour of Council's preferred option and 46 opposed, with one submission unclear.
• Once all councils ratify the Shareholders Agreement, the CCO will be established and the transfer of assets will commence. The transfer of our assets is expected to be completed by 1 July 2026. This is also the date the CCO is expected to start providing services to the first three shareholder councils.

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