Wai+T Water Plan Wins Over Majority

Friday, 22 August 2025, 4:14 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

The dust has settled after one of the most momentous decisions in Wairarapa's local government history. 

Tararua, Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa councils are now bound together in a joint water services delivery agreement to deliver Local Water Done Well reform. 

It was estimated the average cost per waters connection by 2034 would be $4956 in Tararua, $1925 in Masterton, $4170 in Carterton, and $6605 in South Wairarapa. 

At meetings on Wednesday, councillors across the Wairarapa-Tararua region debated fiercely in favour of what they believed was the best path for their own districts, resulting in a 4-4 vote in Carterton, broken by a mayoral casting vote. 

The Wairarapa-Tararua joint entity found majority favour around the remaining council tables. 

In Tararua, acting council chief executive Peter Wimsett said successive governments had told councils “that we don’t do a good job in a timely manner on water”. 

“This sector has been fired by government - we’re just on catchup to realise this,” he said. “That’s just my view.” 

Tararua councillor Mike Long voted against adopting the joint water services approach. In South Wairarapa, where estimated water charges were the highest, mayor Martin Connelly said the reform plan was “a disaster”. 

He said the estimated cost of more than $6000 per connection in his district was much higher than the Department of Internal Affairs’ (DIA) guidance of what was affordable. 

The DIA had advised councils that a "reasonable target" for affordable water charges was 2.5% of the estimated annual median household income. 

South Wairarapa’s water services delivery plan said costs would be 4.8% of the median household income by 2034. 

"We have two choices: The Czechoslovakia choice after Munich where we just bow our heads and get taken over and do what other people have decided we have to do, or we say no, no we don’t accept this.“ 

Another option was to “bring back a government that will provide a balance between clean, safe water and what people can afford”. 

Connelly and councillor Aaron Woodcock voted against submitting the joint water services plan.

Deputy Mayor Melissa Sadler-Futter said the council was ultimately working within the framework of reform, “and we have made the best decisions possible to date within the framework of reform that we have been given”. 

In Masterton, councillor Brent Goodwin said it was “insane” for “some poor person in Featherston to be paying $6600 plus rates” each year. 

He was concerned that the joint water services entity would be more vulnerable to external change by central government. 

“One of the disturbing things about the Wai+T model is the fact that South Wairarapa and Tararua District Council will be facing virtually double the recommended 2.5% of household income. 

“Whilst our figure is fine, their figure is extraordinarily unaffordable. 

“I wouldn’t go into business with someone I saw as going to be on their knees very quickly.” 

Goodwin and councillors Tim Nelson and Tom Hullena voted against submitting the joint plan. 

“I can’t believe we are putting our vulnerable community in a position in which their water costs could be significantly higher, potentially subsidising costs of other areas in the CCO,” Nelson said. 

The council’s finance manager David Paris said modelling showed an annual saving of about $260 by year 10 of the Wairarapa-Tararua plan compared to an enhanced Masterton status quo model. 

Mayor Gary Caffell said by joining forces with neighbouring councils, Masterton could meet new regulatory standards, invest more effectively, and ensure the community continued to receive safe, reliable water services. 

In Carterton, Deputy Mayor Steve Cretney said the cost advantage for residents in the district was “negligible” between a Wairarapa-Tararua and standalone model. 

He said Carterton’s strategic position was the strongest it had ever been and that ratepayers had borne the brunt of some of the highest rates in New Zealand to be in good stead with its water assets. 

He also said the council had revenue stream opportunities if it kept ownership of its water assets which could offset rates in the future.

Councillor Lou Newman agreed. “It’s our residents that have paid the price and done the hard yards. 

“I don’t think this is the next right step for Carterton right now.” 

Cretney, Newman, and councillors Steve Gallon and Grace Ayling voted against the plan. 

Mayor Ron Mark said this was “probably the biggest decision facing elected members in local government”. 

“I love you guys. You’ve got your own independent views, strength, and character. 

“The way in which you conduct yourselves here is an example and I’ve been proud to be your mayor over the past three years.” 

With the vote to submit the joint water services delivery plan locked at 4-4, Mark used his casting vote as the meeting chair to get the plan approved. 

He said his decision reflected that the council had previously supported progressing the Wairarapa-Tararua model and that he believed it was in the best interests of Carterton. 

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

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