Cabinet decisions and reform policy
This page is a historic record.
It contains links to old and/or superseded documents for reference purposes only.
For current information go to: Water Services Policy and Legislation (Updated February 2024)
On this page:
Reforms (updated 31 August 2023)
Cabinet papers and minutes and Regulatory Impact Analysis (updated 22 June 2023)
Reforms
Media releases from the Minister of Local Government
- Water Services Legislation Bill passes third reading | Beehive.govt.nz - 23 August 2023
- Water Services Entities Amendment Bill passes third reading | Beehive.govt.nz - 16 August 2023
- Step closer to affordable water – 16 June 2023 (Beehive website)
- Major shakeup will see affordable water reforms led and delivered regionally – 13 April 2023 (Beehive website)
- New legislation to provide affordable water services for New Zealanders – 8 December 2022 (Beehive website)
- Next steps in securing affordable water services for New Zealanders – 8 December 2022 (Beehive website)
- Changes make water reforms more workable for communities and councils – 11 November 2022 (Beehive website)
- Government provides Three Waters support for councils – 19 July 2022 (Beehive website)
- New legislation to improve water services and protect community ownership – 2 June 2022 (Beehive website)
- Council ownership of waters entities confirmed – 29 April 2022 (Beehive website)
- Government to consider three waters recommendations following Working Group report – 9 March 2022 (Beehive website)
- Reports prove case for urgent water infrastructure reform – 2 June 2021 (Beehive website)
- Government water reforms to build economic resilience and save ratepayers money – 30 June 2021 (Beehive website)
- Government to provide support for water reforms, jobs and growth – 15 July 2021 (Beehive website)
- Bill to transform drinking water safety passes – 28 September 2021 (Beehive website)
- Government to consider next steps in three waters reforms – 1 October 2021 (Beehive website)
- Government to protect vital public water services for future generations – 27 October 2021 (Beehive website)
- Working group to ensure local voice in Three Waters reform – 10 November 2021 (Beehive website)
Cabinet papers and minutes and Regulatory Impact Analysis
On 11 April 2023 Cabinet made decisions to refocus water services reform policy to enable stronger local representation and voice for councils and communities in the reformed water services sector. Those decisions included moving to a ten entity model from the previous four entity model and changing the timing for water services entities ‘go live” dates.
Cabinet paper and Minute - Refocusing the water services reforms - strategy and urgent decisions, 11 April 2023 [PDF, 1.4MB]
On 15 May Cabinet made further decisions related to the refocus of the water services programme including entity “go-live” dates, community priority statements, a locally-led voluntary merger process, entity financing and shared services arrangements.
Cabinet paper and Minute - Refocusing the water services reforms - further decisions, 15 May 2023 [PDF, 1.2MB]
The following addition to the Department’s Regulatory Impact Analysis provides context for the Water Service Entities Amendment Bill:
- Regulatory Impact Statement: Addendum to Decision on the reform of water services delivery arrangements
[PDF, 1.4MB]
Earlier cabinet papers and minutes
- Cabinet paper and Minute - Water Services Legislation Bill - Approval for introduction, 17 November 2022 [PDF, 1MB]
- Cabinet paper and Minute - Pricing and charging for three waters services, 7 June 2022 [PDF, 1MB]
- Chapter 8 RIA Water Services Entities Implementation Arrangements [PDF, 1MB]
- Cabinet paper and Minute - Policy proposals for three waters service delivery legislative settings, 7 June 2022 - updated December 2022 [PDF, 2MB]
- Cabinet Paper - Water Service Entities Bill - Approval for Introduction, 30 May 2022 [PDF, 1MB]
- Cabinet Paper - Delivering the Three Waters Reforms, 12 July 2021 [PDF, 1.6MB]
- Cabinet Paper - A New System For Three Waters Service Delivery Paper One, 14 June 2021 [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Cabinet Paper - Progressing the Three Waters Service Delivery Reforms, 14 December 2020 [PDF, 1.4MB]
- Cabinet Paper - Managing cost pressures associated with implementing the three waters reform programme - 6 April 2022 [PDF, 2MB]
- Cabinet Paper - Strengthening representation, governance and accountability of the new water services entities – 19 April 2022 [PDF, 2MB]
- Rating Evaluation Service (RES) Letter – Three Waters Reform Programme – May 2022 [PDF, 1MB]
- Cabinet Paper One and minute – A new system for three waters service delivery - 30 June 2021 [PDF, 5MB] - Updated February 2022
- Cabinet Paper Two and minute – Designing the new three waters service delivery entities – 30 June 2021 [PDF, 6MB]
- Cabinet Paper Three and minute – Protecting and promoting iwi/Māori rights and interests – 14 June 2021 [PDF, 1.4MB]
- Cabinet Paper Four and minute - Delivering the Three Waters Reforms - 12 July 2021 [PDF, 8MB]
- Cabinet Paper - Three Waters Reforms Further Decisions - 18 October 2021 [PDF, 6.6MB]
- Department of Internal Affairs - Regulatory Impact Analysis - Decision on the reform of three waters service delivery arrangement – January 2022 [PDF, 7MB]
- Cabinet paper and minute – Water Services Entities Bill: Exposure draft and Working Group Process – 8 December 2021 (PDF, 4.6MB)
Contact us
If you have any queries, please email: waterservicesreform@dia.govt.nz
