Waipā votes to join regional water group

Friday, 14 February 2025

Waipā mayor Susan O'Regan said her council’s decision to join a seven-council conglomerate will likely be formalised at a council meeting on February 28.

The Waipā District Council has signalled its preference to join with six other Waikato councils to deliver water and waste water services.

At an open workshop earlier this week, elected members considered detailed information about two potential options – a regional option known as Waikato Water Done Well, or a subregional option partnering with Hamilton City and Waikato District councils.

Councillors preferred the former option of setting up a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) for the future delivery of water and waste water services in the district.

The six other councils who have signed a non-binding Heads of Agreement with Waikato Waters Done Well are Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Matamata Piako, Hauraki, South Waikato and Taupō.

Waipā’s council probably won’t join Hamilton City and the Waikato District councils proposed water services group, electing to go with six smaller councils.

All of those councils are going through their decision-making processes.

Under the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation, all councils across New Zealand are required to produce a water services delivery plan by September this year, with a focus on financial sustainability and meeting quality standards.

Mayor Susan O’Regan said the decision about the future delivery of water services was complex, large and impactful.

“This is a once in a lifetime change, there is no set precedent, and the legislation is still evolving as we move through this process,” she said.

“It is our council’s strongly held desire that in the long term, we end up with one Waikato waters entity.

“But in the short-to-medium term, our focus is on what we think is best for Waipā, what is most affordable for our communities, what will give greatest investment certainty, ensure a strong future workforce and enhance environmental outcomes.”

In addition, she said the council could not underestimate the power of the Government’s focus on promoting economic growth, delivering infrastructure and improving the supply of quality housing through regional deals.

“This sends a strong signal to central Government that we also want what is best for the Waikato and see enormous value in collaborative partnerships.”

However, while no formal decisions can be made in council workshops, the council will be asked to confirm its preferred option at a meeting on February 26 before community consultation begins on March 21.

South Waikato mayor Gary Petley said his council were yet to get to that point but have made good progress, and will be making its decision in the coming weeks.

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said she respected Waipa’s preliminary decision and hoped that in future the two groups could join forces.

“I have a very open and positive relationship with mayor Susan … she's been keeping me up with their thinking throughout the process, so there’s no surprises in this decision.

“We're all in this exploring what is right for our communities based on the analysis that we've done, and I respect the decision that's right for them.”

She said if both models were similar, they could easily work together in future, “when the time is right”.

“We have to make sure we keep working collaboratively and cooperatively together so we can maximise those longer term options.”