Hurunui, Kaikōura Joint Water Plan Ready To Be Submitted

Tuesday, 12 August 2025, 11:10 am
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

North Canterbury’s two rural councils are ready to submit their joint water services delivery plan. 

The Hurunui and Kaikōura district councils met separately last week to approve their joint water plan, ready to submit to the Department of Internal Affairs ahead of the September 3 deadline. 

The two councils agreed to form a joint water services council controlled organisation (CCO) earlier this year and signed a commitment agreement last month. 

The new CCO will be responsible for more supplying water services to more than 11,000 connections or properties across the two districts. 

The plan outlines how both councils will work together to deliver water services for their communities under a dedicated CCO. 

It sets out the investment required over the next ten years to meet service levels, regulatory standards, and growth needs, and how this will be funded, Kaikōura chief executive Will Doughty told Local Democracy Reporting. 

‘‘The water services delivery plan is the culmination of a lot of hard work over the last year and shows what can be achieved by working together for the common goal of achieving the best outcomes for our communities.’’ 

Mr Doughty said the Kaikōura council will consider separate urban and rural water rates ahead of the CCO establishment, ‘‘but only if it makes sense to do it’’. 

Kaikōura has five water schemes in the town, predominantly supplied from Mackle’s bore, and three rural water schemes which supply 2200 connections. 

The council’s three waters infrastructure was largely rebuilt after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016, as part of a $50m rebuild. 

It was largely funded from insurance and Government support, leaving the council with little debt, in contrast to the Hurunui council, which has made a significant investment in its water infrastructure through debt funding. 

Hurunui chief executive Hamish Dobbie said his council made a commitment in its 2015/25 Long Term Plan to debt fund its water infrastructure to comply with national regulations. 

Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said it might not have been possible if rates capping had been in place.

‘‘When you think of rates capping, we’ve had a few years of high rate increases because of the investment, but we felt it was necessary and our ratepayers supported us. 

‘‘Ratepayers and water users are the same people, so we’ve been mindful of that during this process.’’

Mr Dobbie said the debt will be ring-fenced, so Kaikōura water users will not be liable for Hurunui’s debt. 

The new CCO will be governed by a board comprising five board members, three will be appointed jointly, with the councils appointing one each. 

It will have its own chief executive or general manager. Should the Department of Internal Affairs approve the plan, the councils will aim to have the new CCO up and running by July 1 next year.

Councils will have until June 30, 2028, to demonstrate they are financially sustainable. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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