06 November 2025

A joint plan for the delivery of water services across Central Hawke’s Bay, Hastings and Napier has received the tick of approval from Government and a four-person Establishment Advisory Board is now in place to oversee a phased transition of water services from the three councils to a new, jointly owned organisation.

Set to become operational from 1 July 2027, the new Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) will be one of the largest multi council entities in the country. It will bring together the delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services for all three councils - serving a combined population of 144,000 and managing approximately 52,000 water connections.

The Hawke’s Bay Water Services Joint Committee was responsible for appointing the Establishment Board.

Wendie Harvey has been appointed as Advisory Board Chair, with Steven Joyce, John Loughlin, and George Reedy appointed as Board Members.

Hawke’s Bay Water Services Joint Committee Independent Chair, Jon Nichols, said given the critical role of this new organisation in ensuring the safe, reliable and cost-effective delivery of water services to much of the region’s communities, it was very important to the shareholding councils that the directors have the right mix of governance and leadership credentials.

“Candidates were assessed against a comprehensive skills matrix, which prioritised expertise in regional knowledge of Hawke’s Bay, Te Ao Māori, and experience in organisational transformation and change management,” Mr Nichols said.

“I’m confident that Wendie, Steven, John and George bring the right mix of skills, experience, and leadership to guide the next phase of this significant transition.”

Mrs Harvey looks forward to the opportunity to be part of what is a very important journey for the councils and their communities.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for councils to create a model for delivering high-quality, cost-effective water services that meet national standards, while ensuring investment planning supports future growth.”

© Scoop Media