Hurunui and Kaikōura district councillors have this week approved a commitment agreement for the future provision of water services.

The commitment agreement sets out how the two rural North Canterbury councils will work together to establish a joint Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) as mandated by their communities during consultation earlier this year.

Hurunui Council CEO Hamish Dobbie said: “The agreement is an important document, ensuring both councils have a common understanding of how the WSCCO will be set up and how it will operate.”

The agreement proposes the WSCCO be set up early next year, with the aim that it will start operating on 1 July 2026.

Kaikōura Council CEO Will Doughty said the WSCCO would be a stand-alone entity with both councils acting as shareholders. The agreement leaves the door open for future opportunities to work with other councils.

The agreement also makes provision for setting up a reference group after the local government elections. This will support governance while the WSCCO is being established, as well as offering a consumer perspective on proposals.

The reference group will be made up of two councillors from each of the Kaikōura and Hurunui councils, and their chief executives.

A project budget of $870,000 was approved, comprising available funding from both councils, transitional support funding from the DIA, and debt, which would be transferred to the new entity on establishment.

The joint Water Services Delivery Plan will be brought before both councils next week for approval, ahead of submission to the Department of Internal Affairs to meet the regulatory deadline of 3 September 2025.

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