Water Services Programme
This page is a historic record.
It contains links to old and/or superseded documents for reference purposes only.
For current information go to: Water Services Policy and Legislation (Updated February 2024)
The Government announced a new direction for water services on 14 December 2023 (link to Beehive website).
Water Services Legislation
The Government was implementing reform of water services through a suite of legislation.
The Water Services Entities Act
The Water Services Entities Act establishes the new water services entities so they are ready to provide services from their ‘go live’ dates.
The Water Services Entities Act also incorporates amendments set out in the Water Services Entities Amendment Act and the Water Services Legislation Act, forming a single piece of legislation detailing the new arrangements for the provision of water services in New Zealand.
You can read more about the Act here: The Water Services Entities Act
The Water Services Entities Amendment Act
The Water Services Entities Amendment Act gives effect to the Government’s refocus of water services reforms announced in April 2023 (link to Beehive website).
The Act amends the Water Services Entities Act 2022 to establish 10 water services entities based on existing regional boundaries, and introduces a staggered timeframe for establishing the entities, with all entities going live between 1 July 2024 and 1 July 2026.
Read more about the Water Services Entities Amendment Act.
Water Services Legislation Act
This Act establishes the detailed powers, functions and duties of the new water services entities which are necessary for them to deliver water services to communities.
Read more about the Water Services Legislation Act.
The Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Act
The Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Act implements Cabinet’s agreement to establish an economic regulation and consumer protection regime as part of water services reform.
You can read more about the Act, economic regulation and consumer protection in three waters service delivery on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s website here: Economic regulation and consumer protection regime for water services (link to MBIE website)
Contact us
If you have any queries, please email: waterservicesreform@dia.govt.nz
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