A regional approach to LWDW

There are significant challenges ahead for the delivery of water services in Hawke’s Bay, as well as across the nation. Ageing infrastructure, growth-related demand, resilience challenges, climate change and natural disasters, and increasing environmental standards signal increased investment requirements.

Local Water Done Well offers councils new options to deliver water services and fun waters infrastructure, and places new requirements on councils. As a first step and one of the legislative requirements, Councils have until mid-2025 to (either individually or collectively) develop a Water Services Delivery Plan. These Plans must provide a long-term assessment of councils’ water infrastructure, how much they need to invest, and how they plan to finance and deliver it through their preferred water service delivery model, including whether this will be achieved alone, or by working with other councils. Councils must show they can deliver water services that meet regulatory requirements, support growth and urban development, and are financially sustainable.

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Wairoa District Council are working together to explore whether a regional water services entity would best serve Hawke’s Bay’s communities.

This builds on the joint work undertaken in 2019 to review the then current and potential waters service delivery options for Hawke’s Bay, which you can read about here Hawke's Bay Three Waters Review | Hawke's Bay Three Waters Review (napier.govt.nz).

No commitment has been made to adopt a regional solution and while options are being explored and we are quite a long way from any change to the way councils deliver day-to-day water services in Hawke's Bay and we have time to make sure we get this right. In the meantime, the councils will continue to provide water services to their respective residents and ratepayers. 

As councils we are focused on ensuring clean, quality water is delivered to our communities now, as well as for the future generations of Hawke’s Bay. This is crucial in protecting our environment, supporting public health and enabling sustainable growth, while meeting our regulatory responsibilities at the same time. 

Work is at an early stage to examine all practical options. In the first instance, the councils are collecting financial data to support the development of a joint Water Services Delivery Plan and Business Case, which will contribute to a later decision on whether to pursue a regional water services entity.

All councils are committed to being transparent during the process of considering a joint arrangement.

How we deliver water services in Hawke’s Bay is a critically important decision for the future of the region. We recognise the need for everyone to have the chance to have their views heard and the importance of working with mana whenua to ensure that te mana o te wai is at the centre of decision-making on water. 

Consultation will be undertaken once we have fully developed options for consideration against the status quo.