Marae and Papakāinga Rural Water Services Technical Advisory Group

For current information go to: Water Services Policy and Legislation (Updated February 2024)

Inequities in access to safe and reliable drinking water in rural areas and for Māori  

Many Māori rural communities have a long history of being under-served by water services.

In 2022, the Rural Supplies Technical Working Group released a report (PDF, 934KB) which highlighted the historic inequities in accessing safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services experienced by many rural marae and papakāinga that need to be addressed.

The group further found that historic inequities in funding and support for water services by both councils and government mean that many marae and papakāinga drinking water supplies require substantial investment in order to provide consistently safe drinking water.

As recommended by the Rural Supplies Technical Working Group the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has established a Marae and Papakāinga Rural Water Services Technical Advisory Group to further consider the issues and provide recommendations to address them. 

The role of the Marae and Papakāinga Rural Water Services Technical Advisory Group

The Marae and Papakāinga Rural Water Services Technical Advisory Group (the advisory group) will advise DIA about challenges that rural Māori communities, including marae and papakāinga, have had in accessing water services, especially drinking water.   

The advisory group will help guide water service entities to fulfil their roles and duties, including their obligations to Māori communities, and identify opportunities for inequities to be addressed by water services entities, Taumata Arowai and central government. 

What the advisory group intends to achieve

The advisory group are tasked with: 

• Improving understanding of the historic and current inequities in access to safe, reliable and affordable water services for marae and papakāinga in rural areas
• advising on how water services entities should carry out their roles, functions and duties in ways that will result in consistent and sustainable improvements to access to safe, reliable and affordable water services for marae, hapū and Iwi.
• advising on the future need for central government funding support to upgrade and maintain marae and papakāinga drinking and wastewater services.
• informing the approach by Taumata Arowai to implement the Water Services Act 2021 and regulate water supplies to marae and papakāinga.
• Informing the ongoing role of central government in stewardship and monitoring of the water services system

These key outcomes will help improve water services for marae and papakāinga and prevent them from being left behind.

Advisory group membership and arrangements

Members of the advisory group were endorsed and appointed by the Iwi Collectives of each water services entity in December 2022. The experts put forward by the Iwi Collectives are well-versed in the history and wellbeing of their marae, papakāinga, whānau and hapū within their respective areas. The members were also chosen for their knowledge of how whānau and hapū can sustainably access water services on an equitable basis for the marae and papakāinga in their area.

The advisory group consists of eleven members made up of 2-3 representatives from each Iwi collective of the former four water services entities. The Group was formed before the Government announced changes to water services reforms, including the shift from four to ten water services entities. The Group acknowledges that its membership does not necessarily have representatives from all ten water services entities.

Members of the working group

Member	Iwi (hapū)	Appointing Entity
Nicki Wakefield (Chair)	Ngāpuhi, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Whakaūe, Ngāi Tahu	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective A
Epaapara Poutapu	Waikato-Maniapoto (Ngaati Mahuta, Ngaati Korokii Kahukura, Ngaati Apakura)	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective A
Mereraina Piripi	Te Rarawa (Patukirikiri), Ngāti Kahu (Te Whānau Moana), Ngati Kuri, Ngāpuhi (Te Māhurehure)	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective A
Joseph Tahana	Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Makino, Tapuika	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective B
Desmond Heke	Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective B
Wikitōria Tāne	Ngāti Maniapoto (Ngāti Urunumia, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Uekaha, Ngāti Unu)	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective B
Willie Te Aho	Te Whānau ā Apanui	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective C
Pōhatu Paku		Water Services Entity Iwi Collective C
Dianne Smith	Ngāti Kahungunu (Ngāi Te Whatuiapiti rātau, Ngāi Toroiwaho, Ngai Te Hauapa)	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective C
Carl Crofts	Ngāi Tahu, Ngā Rauru	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective D
Nadia Wesley-Smith	Kai Tahu (Kāti Taoka, Kāi Te Pahi), Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha	Water Services Entity Iwi Collective D

In addition to members of the Advisory Group are representatives of DIA as Secretariat support, and Taumata Arowai representatives as observers.

Timeline

• December 2022: Endorsements from Iwi collectives received and accepted by DIA.
• 30 January 2023: Advisory group established and first hui held.
• End of June / early July 2023: A final report with recommendations is due.

The advisory group meets on a regular basis – approximately every three weeks - to progress this important work and provide key updates and advice to DIA. You can stay informed about key activities and current timelines by regularly visiting this webpage.

For further information about the Advisory Group, please contact: waterservicesreform@dia.govt.nz