New waters CCO directors and name announced

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Kevin Lavery has been appointed Executive Chair of the Establishment Board.

Waikato’s new publicly owned water company has a name, a leadership team, and a billion-dollar mandate.

The entity, named IAWAI Flowing Waters, was announced on Tuesday alongside the appointment of three board members who will oversee its establishment.

It will eventually be responsible for managing water infrastructure across Hamilton and Waikato districts, with planned investment totalling $3.6 billion over 10 years.

Director Tim Manukau, a Huntly-based science advisor.

Former Wellington City Council chief executive Kevin Lavery will chair the board and take charge from 1 July 2025, effectively acting as chief executive until a permanent one is appointed later this year.

Lavery will be joined by Tim Manukau, a Huntly-based science advisor and kaitiaki of the Waikato River, and Dave Chambers, who steps down from his role as Watercare’s CEO this month.

Dave Chambers is one of three directors named.

All three directors were appointed by a nine-person panel representing the two shareholding councils: Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council, and Waikato-Tainui.

The name, IAWAI, was developed in partnership with Waikato-Tainui and was chosen from a shortlist developed by staff. It references the Māori words for river (awa), flow (ia), and water (wai).

“We recognised the mana reflected in the name IAWAI with river (awa) in the centre, and referencing flow (ia) and water (wai). It is a fitting name and will serve us well,” said panel chair Jaydene Kana.

The new board will oversee the transfer of staff, assets, debt, consents, and contracts from both councils into the new organisation over the next 12 months.

That includes all water infrastructure currently owned by ratepayers.

Waikato District Mayor Jacqui Church (left) and Hamilton City Mayor Paula Southgate celebrate a joint waters council controlled organisation (CCO).

The company is expected to go live on 1 July 2026, managing more than 90,000 water connections across the two council areas. Of the $3.6b planned investment, about two-thirds ($2.4b) will go toward growth-related infrastructure.

Both councils approved the creation of the Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) in May, following the Government’s move to dismantle Labour’s Three Waters reform and encourage regional alternatives.

Hamilton City councillors unanimously agreed to Hamilton joining forces with their neighbours Waikato District on water, with shared Hamilton City-Waikato District water services backed by almost three quarters of submitters to the city council.

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate acknowledged the complexity ahead but said the board brings valuable experience.

“The work ahead is not easy but vital to the future of our fast-growing city,” she said.

Waikato District Mayor Jacqui Church called the CCO a legacy move and said the board appointments reflected hard work across councils and iwi.

“Future-proofing waters for our people and generations to come is a much-needed and important legacy.”

The board’s term lengths vary: Lavery and Manukau will serve two years, while Chambers begins with a one-year appointment.