Stratford opts for independence on future water services

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Former Stratford District mayor Brian Jeffares urged the council to retain its independence in his submission.

Stratford District Council has voted unanimously to retain its independent water services, following overwhelming feedback from residents.

All three of Taranaki’s district councils sought feedback from their communities over a proposal to set up a joint regional entity to deliver drinking water and waste water services or to retain their own in-house business units.

The process was required under the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation to address the country's water infrastructure challenges.

Stratford District Councillors were unanimous in their vote. (File photo)

Councillors voted unanimously on Tuesday not to join the entity, following a clear message from residents, with just 12 of the 185 submissions received by the Stratford District Council in favour of option A, the joint entity.

Submitters overwhelmingly stated they were happy with the way their council managed water, they did not want to be burdened with extra debt being part of the entity would entail, and they felt the division of the joint committee to run the region’s water put the smallest member at a disadvantage.

“Stratford does face the risk of being overshadowed in regional decision making processes as they provide water to less people, as can be expected in a smaller community,” co-chair Tatjana Hanne wrote in a submission presented by Stratford Youth Council.

“This could result in reduced influence over how services are delivered locally and lead to decisions that may not fully align with our community’s specific needs and values.”

Mayor Neil Volzke welcomed the unanimous vote not to join the regional water entity.

Craig Burrows wrote in his submission: “We should embrace the opportunity to show the respect and confidence our Council deserves in managing finance, policy, direction and engineering prowess in various forms for the last 135 years.

“I’m very concerned that we would be the small cog in a big wheel and that big wheel would gather a lot of mud.”

Former mayor Brian Jeffares urged the council to retain its independence, warning the move was a step towards amalgamation, but without the discussion and consideration a decision would require.

Councillors were unanimous in their vote following their deliberations.

“I am 100 per cent happy, I am voting for what my community ratepayers want, I’m going for option B,” councillor John Sandford said.

Mayor Neil Volzke agreed with Jeffares when he summed up the discussion before the vote.

“This is a step towards amalgamation, we are taking away a decent chunk of our activities if we go for a regional model.

“That may come, but it should be for the right reasons, not be an unintended consequence of this decision,” he said.

“I am not the Mayor of New Plymouth or South Taranaki, and I’m not a spokesman for Central Government in Wellington, I am Mayor of Stratford and my vote is what’s best for Stratford.”

He said the SDC decision would change the options for the other two councils “because you can’t have a two-legged stool”.

Councillors voted to instruct officers to work with other councils to collaborate on shared expenses and purchasing options.

More than 90% of the 726 submissions received by South Taranaki District Council (STDC) were in favour of the council retaining its water services in-house.

A New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) spokesperson declined to reveal the breakdown of its 287 submissions.

STDC will vote on July 21 and NPDC would hear submissions on July 1 and 2, before a final decision by elected members on July 22.

The final Water Service Delivery Plans must be submitted by September 3 and are subject to approval by the Department of Internal Affairs.