Consultation on Upper Hutt City Council's Water Services Delivery Model Options

Public consultation is now open on Upper Hutt City Council's Water Services Delivery Model Options under the Government's Local Water Done Well reform.

About this consultation

• The new legislation states that all councils must consult and decide on a delivery model and submit their water services delivery plan to Government by 3 September 2025.
• To read more about the process we've followed to reach this point, see the 'What's happened so far' section on our webpage.
• Council is consulting with the community on this in accordance with the alternative requirements of the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 (sections 60-64). This means it is a little different to how other consultations may look, the information available and what we can do.
  
  
• There are only two options that we are asking for feedback on. You can read more about these options in the Consultation Document, and then provide feedback.
  • Option 1 - Our preferred approach: a new multi - council owned water organisation which will own and operate public water, wastewater and stormwater assets/networks.

  • Option 2 - Modified status quo: a modified version of Wellington Water where asset ownership and investment decisions remain with each individual council. As the existing Wellington Water model would not comply with all aspects of the new legislation, this option includes changes required to comply with legislation.

• We’ve done some initial financial work to compare different delivery models for your feedback. The financial details in the consultation document are not complete. The full financial information will be included in the final Water Services Delivery Plan.

• We are teaming up with the councils (Hutt, Porirua and Wellington City Councils and Greater Wellington Regional Council) that would be part of the proposed new water services organisation to gather feedback on the preferred delivery approach. Following consultation, councillors will consider all the feedback and make their final decision on a new delivery model. Although each council will make its own decision, themes from feedback will be shared across all councils, to ensure alignment in the councils’ decision-making.
• A water services delivery plan will then be finalised based on the confirmed delivery model. Councils are required to submit their plans to the Department of Internal Affairs no later than 3 September 2025 for review and approval.
• There is more detailed information available on a range of Frequently Asked Questions on the right of this page.

Read the Consultation Document at the top right of this page for the full information about this consultation, the Local Water Done Well requirements and case for change, and the water service delivery model options.

The contents of the Consultation Document are set out in two parts as shown below.

What's Local Water Done Well?

In December 2023 the Government announced a new direction for water services (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater) policy and legislation called Local Water Done Well (LWDW). It requires councils across the country to decide, alongside their communities, what approach they will take to deliver water services.

You can read more on the background and details to Local Water Done Well in the Frequently Asked Questions (on the right of this page) or on the Department of Internal Affairs website.

The Government's implementation map for the reform is available in the Supporting Documents section on the top right of this page.

The core expectations and legislative requirements of the reform are that:

• Councils develop a Water Services Delivery Plan to transition to a new water services delivery model that meets regulatory requirements (plans must be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September 2025 for review and approval).
• There will be increased regulation concerning water quality and infrastructure investment.
• Financial sustainability of a water service delivery model is required, based on sufficient revenue, ringfencing to fund investment and funding for growth.

Terms of making a submission: Upper Hutt City Council collects your personal information on this form for the Annual Plan and concurrent consultation purposes. Your name will be published alongside your submission, unless you request that it is not. Your personal information will be stored securely by Upper Hutt City Council and only accessed by Council for consultation purposes. You can request access to and correction of your personal information at any time. Submission of this form is deemed acceptance of these terms.

Greater Wellington Regional Council also wants to hear from the region’s residents on its Local Water Done Well consultation. Visit gw.govt.nz to give them your feedback.