Waikato Waters hits first milestones

Wednesday, 1 April 2026

Signing agreements, getting finance and recruiting staff are the recent milestones for Waikato Waters (file photo).

Waikato Waters has ticked off early milestones as it gears up to take over services for multiple councils.

The new provider has signed agreements with three councils, started hiring staff and secured access to long-term borrowing.

“Each milestone brings us closer to delivering reliable, high-quality water and wastewater services for our communities from day one,” interim chief executive Neil Brennan said.

Waikato Waters is owned by six district councils and will eventually serve about 50,000 customers, managing assets worth approximately $1.4 billion. It has a July 1, 2026 start date, a statement said

Three councils have signed agreements to hand over their water and wastewater services: Waipā, Waitomo and South Waikato district councils.

Agreements with Hauraki, Ōtorohanga and Matamata‑Piako district councils will follow, Waikato Waters said.

Waikato Waters will start delivering services in the first three council areas from July 2026, though councils will keep handling billing and customer queries for at least the first 12 months “to ensure a smooth transition”.

Another recent milestone was the start of recruiting.

More than 90% of frontline council staff offered roles accepted contracts within the first week, according to the statement.

Head office will initially be in central Hamilton but, longer-term, the organisation will be looking for “a head office in our area of operation”.

Waikato Waters is also the first water council-controlled organisation to join the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency, a Waikato Waters statement said.

That gives it access to cheaper, long-term finance. The organisation expects to borrow about $300 million by 2034 to support an infrastructure programme worth around $800 million across the region, covering water and wastewater.

“Access to LGFA funding is a significant step for us,” Brennan said. “It means we can invest in critical infrastructure in a financially responsible way.”

A potential 18 water council-controlled organisations (CCOs) are expected to join LGFA by 1 July 2027, the statement said.

Waikato Waters is expected to be one of the largest water providers in New Zealand once fully operational.

Another waters organisation is also being set up in the region - IAWAI covers Hamilton City and Waikato District.