The Department of Internal Affairs

Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua

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Archived Three Waters Reform Programme information and key documents – 2020-2022

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It contains links to old and/or superseded documents for reference purposes only.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)

Water Services Legislation
The Water Services Entities Bill
Joint Three Waters Steering Committee
Updates from the Steering Committee
Funding package 
Key Documents
Working Groups
Individual council models and slide packs
Request for Information (RFI)
Reform Programme Engagement 2021
Sector Engagement 2020
Iwi/Māori Engagement
Archived documents
Media releases
Contact us

Water Services Legislation

The Government is implementing reform of water services through a suite of legislation:

The Water Services Entities Act

The Water Services Entities Act establishes the new water services entities so they are ready to provide services from their ‘go live’ dates.

You can read more about the Act here: The Water Services Entities Bill.

The Water Services Legislation Bill

This Bill establishes the detailed powers, functions and duties of the new water services entities which are necessary for them to deliver water services to communities. It also contains the mechanisms for transfer of assets and liabilities from local government to water services entities and amends local government legislation and other legislation relating to water services.

The Bill also contains:

  • Provisions to recognise and respect the Crown’s responsibility to give effect to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • A compliance, monitoring and enforcement regime.
  • Regulatory functions and powers, which will replace and modernise the existing bylaws framework.
  • A charging framework.
  • Provisions to protect vulnerable consumers.
  • A pathway for mixed-use rural water supplies to transfer from the water services entities into community ownership.

Select committee recommendations

On 8 June Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Committee reported The Water Services Legislation Bill back to Parliament. Among the more than 300 changes to the Bill recommended by the committee are:

  • Greater clarity about how relationship agreements will work in practice to comprehensively manage areas where cooperation between water services entities councils and other partners is required. The changes make clear that these agreements will be enforceable and provide for a dispute resolution mechanism.
  • Clarifying that only council-controlled organisations (CCOs) and council-controlled trading organisations (CCTOs) whose predominant purpose is to support territorial authorities in their management and operation of water services will transfer to the new water services entities. Predominant purpose is defined as 85% or more of revenue from provisions of water related services. The Committee has also exempted Citycare Water from the transfer provisions. This means that only Watercare and Wellington Water will transfer over.
  • Water services entities must have a development code, which must set out a series of development principles that set out how entities will support and enable urban development and growth in their service area.
  • Entities will be required to develop rural supply plans for mixed-use rural water supplies. The rural supply plan is intended to provide better recognition of the special nature of these schemes and to ensure that farming communities can continue to be involved in mixed-use rural water supply schemes.
  • Requiring water services entities to identify deficiencies in access to water services for communities and to develop a plan to address them.
  • Clarification of the Government’s intention that water services entities will pay rates.
  • Revised arrangements to provide greater certainty for roles and responsibilities for stormwater management including in relation to urban water courses on private land.
  • The ability to require councils to pass-through billing on behalf of entities will expire on 30 June 2027 (instead of 30 June 2029).
  • Ensuring the integrity, intent, and effect of Treaty settlement obligations are upheld by the entities, and providing a process for amending Treaty settlement Acts that are impacted by the water services reform.

A full copy of the Committee’s Report and the bill is available on the Parliament website here: Water Services Legislation Bill (Parliament website)

Read the Bill (on www.legislation.govt.nz)

The Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill

Also introduced to Parliament in December 2022, the Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill implements Cabinet’s agreement to establish an economic regulation and consumer protection regime as part of water services reform.

You can read more about economic regulation and consumer protection in three waters services on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s website here: Economic regulation and consumer protection regime for water services

Read the Bill (on www.legislation.govt.nz)

The Water Services Entities Amendment Act

The Water Services Entities Amendment Act gives effect to the Government’s refocus of water services reforms announced in April 2023.

The Act amends the Water Services Entities Act 2022 to establish 10 water services entities based on existing regional boundaries, and introduces a staggered timeframe for establishing the entities, with all entities going live between 1 July 2024 and 1 July 2026. 

The Act provides for every territorial authority owner – and therefore every community – to have at least one representative on the entity’s regional representative group, with an equal number of mana whenua representatives.
Specifically, the Act:

  • Enables local people to have a say in how the new water services entities operate and their impact on local waterways, via Community Priority Statements
  • Outlines a process and guidance to enable locally-led, voluntary mergers of entities 
  • Provides for a dedicated Water Services Funding Agency to be established as a backstop financing mechanism for water services entities, if required 
  • Enables shared services arrangements, including a provision for the responsible Minister to direct entities where collaboration or a whole of sector approach is required  
  • Provides transitional arrangements, including that councils will continue to provide water services to communities during the period for establishing the new entities, including for long-term planning, reporting, and rate setting over this period.

You can read the Act in full on the New Zealand Legislation website.  

The Water Services Entities Bill

The Government has introduced to Parliament the first piece of legislation to make these changes – the Water Services Entities Bill. As well as setting up the new entities so they can be ready in two years’ time, the Bill locks in council ownership of the WSEs on behalf of the communities, by making councils the sole shareholders. Councils will have one share per 50,000 people in their area, rounded up – so each council will have at least one share.

The legislation ensures communities will have a say in the running of the new water organisations through council and iwi oversight, while giving them the financial and operational independence they need to get on with the job.

Read the Bill (on www.legislation.govt.nz)

The Select Committee

After the Bill’s first reading on 9 June 2022, it was referred to Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee. The Committee considered over 80,000 submissions on this legislation including 227 oral submissions heard during hearings in Wellington and around the country.

On 11 November, the Finance and Expenditure Committee issued its report on the Water Services Entities Bill (New Zealand Parliament website, PDF, 1.7MB).

As a result of submissions, the Departmental Report and other advice (New Zealand Parliament website), the Committee agreed to approximately 130 amendments to the Bill. Given the Bill has 228 clauses (plus schedules), the number of changes to address feedback is substantial and significant.

Auditor General’s response to accountability and independent audit proposals

On 13 November at the request of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, Controller and Auditor-General John Ryan wrote to the chair of the committee Barbara Edmonds to provide comment on the Department of Internal Affairs’ proposed changes to the Water Services Entities Bill. The Department proposed these changes in response to matters raised by the Office of the Auditor General in their submission on the Bill. These matters related to the accountability and independent audit arrangements for water services entities set out in the Bill.

The Department’s proposed changes have been accepted by the Finance and Expenditure Committee which has recommended the Bill is amended accordingly.

Letter from the Controller and Auditor-General - 13 October 2022 (PDF, 170KB)

Learn more and keep up with the process by clicking the button (link) below.

New Zealand Parliament website

Resources


Three Waters Steering Committee

At the May 2020 Central/Local Government Forum, central and local government leadership discussed challenges facing New Zealand’s water service delivery and infrastructure, and committed to working jointly on reform.

The Joint Three Waters Steering Committee has been established to provide oversight and guidance to support progress towards reform, and to assist in engaging with local government, iwi/Māori and other water sector stakeholders on options and proposals.

The Steering Committee comprises independent chair Brian Hanna, local government mayors, chairs and chief executives, representatives of Local Government New Zealand and Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa (formerly SOLGM), officials and advisors from the Department of Internal Affairs, Taumata Arowai, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Treasury.

The Steering Committee ensures the perspectives, interests and expertise of both central and local government, and of communities throughout New Zealand are considered, while the challenges facing water services and infrastructure are addressed.

The Steering Committee is supported by a secretariat made up of advisors and officials from Local Government New Zealand,  Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa, the Department of Internal Affairs, and the Treasury. This secretariat is hosted by the Department of Internal Affairs, and can be contacted via email at: 3waterssteeringgroup@dia.govt.nz

Reform programme and funding package

In July 2020, the Government announced funding to provide immediate covid stimulus package to maintain and improve water networks infrastructure, and to support a three-year programme of reform of local government water services delivery arrangements.

Central and Local Government considered it timely to apply targeted infrastructure stimulus investment to enable improvements to water service delivery, progress reform in partnership, and ensure the period of economic recovery following COVID-19 supports a transition to a productive, sustainable economy.

All eligible councils signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and associated Funding Agreement and Delivery Plan for the first stage of the Three Waters Services Reform Programme. 

The Department of Internal Affairs and Crown Infrastructure Partners have reviewed and approved all 67 Delivery Plans for councils’ use of Three Waters funding allocations. All councils have received an initial three waters stimulus funding instalment (50 per cent of their total allocation), totalling $261.5 million.

The remaining $261.5 million will be released to councils in instalments, on the achievement of milestones linked to the completion of defined activities.

In addition to the allocation of stimulus funding for local government, Cabinet agreed to allocate $30 million to support rural drinking water suppliers, including marae, to meet drinking water standards. We expect this funding to be allocated in 2021.

Working Groups

The Government is establishing three independent working groups to refine elements of the Three Waters Reform programme.

Working group papers and agenda will be published on this page.

Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability of new Water Services Entities - 2022

Cabinet Paper - Strengthening representation, governance and accountability of the new water services entities – 19 April 2022 (PDF, 4.3MB)

The Minister for Local Government Hon Nanaia Mahuta announced the Cabinet response to recommendations made by the Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability of new Water Services Entities in May 2022. 

The Government accepted many of the Working Group’s recommendations, for the specifics of the Government’s decisions click here:

Government response to Working Group recommendations [PDF, 457KB]

Key council figures [PDF, 595KB]

Council shareholding in Water Service Entities [PDF, 163KB]

Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability of new Water Services Entities - 2021

On 10 November 2021 Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced a working group with members from local government and iwi to recommend strengthened representation, governance and accountability arrangements for the new water services entities.

The Working Group held its first meeting on 26 November and will report back in 28 February 2022.

Entities map:

Three waters entities map

Entities map [PNG, 216KB]

Three waters governance diagram:

Three waters governance diagram [PNG, 1MB]

This independent working group was comprised of representatives from local government and iwi/Maori, and considered how representation, governance and accountability arrangements for water services entities can be strengthened.

Members of the Working Group:

Representation

Member(s)

Independent Chairperson

Doug Martin

Iwi/Māori representatives

Ngarimu Blair (Entity A)

Huhana Lyndon (Entity A)

Jamie Tuuta (Entity B)

Karen Vercoe (Entity B)

Ngahiwi Tomoana (Entity C)

Olivia Hall (Entity C)

Gabrielle Huria (Entity D)

Barry Bragg (Entity D)

Tokoroirangi Morgan (Additional representative)

Elected members of local authorities (2 from each entity)

Mayor Phil Goff, Auckland (Entity A)

Mayor Dr Jason Smith, Kaipara (Entity A)

Mayor Garry Webber, Western Bay of Plenty (Entity B)

Mayor Neil Holdom, New Plymouth (Entity B)

Mayor Campbell Barry, Lower Hutt (Entity C)

Mayor Rachel Reese, Nelson (Entity C)

Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Christchurch (Entity D)

Mayor Tim Cadogan, Central Otago (Entity D)

Mayor Lyn Patterson, Masterton (Rural/Provincial sector representative)

Chair of the joint Central-Local Government Three Waters Steering Committee

Brian Hanna

Individual members may have individual local authority or iwi interests, but represent the interests of those facing similar issues and circumstances and consider national as well as local interests.

 

Council feedback submissions

This report has been jointly prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs, Local Government New Zealand, and Taituarā to summarise feedback from the local government sector on the Government’s three waters reform proposals that were released on 30 June 2021.

Individual council feedback submissions will be proactively released shortly on the Local Government Feedback on reform proposals page.

Three Waters guidance for Councils – August and September 2021

The Department, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), and Taituarā have collaborated to produce this guidance for Councils. The purpose of this period is to understand the proposal and how it affects your Council and your community, and to identify issues of local concern and suggest possible ways to address those. It’s an opportunity for the sector to engage with the model and the proposal, at both the national level and as it relates to your community.

Relevant documents

Planning Technical Working Group

As water infrastructure is a key component of the planning system water services entities will need to interact with the resource management system to deliver on the outcomes set by councils through their planning documents.

The Planning Technical Working Group has provided advice to DIA to support policy development related to the intersection between the role and functions of the new water services entities and the resource management system.

This policy is being implemented through provisions in the Water Services Legislation Bill which is currently before Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee.  You can find out more about the select committee process including how to make a submission here: Water Services Legislation Bill

The working group met monthly.

Planning Technical Working Group - Meeting 1 - 23 March 2022

PTWG hui 1, 23 March 2022 - slidepack (PDF, 903KB)
PTWG hui 1, 23 March 2022 - summary notes (PDF, 807KB)

Planning Technical Working Group - Meeting 2 - 12 April 2022

PTWG hui 2, 12 April 2022 - slidepack (PDF, 1.3MB)
PTWG hui 2, 12 April 2022 - summary notes (PDF, 770KB)

Planning Technical Working Group - Meeting 3 - 9 May 2022

PTWG hui 3, 9 May 2022 - slidepack (PDF, 2.8MB)
PTWG hui 3, 9 May 2022 - summary notes (PDF, 808KB)

Planning Technical Working Group - Meeting 4 - 31 May 2022

PTWG hui 4, 31 May 2022- slidepack (PDF, 1.7MB)
PTWG hui 4, 31 May 2022- summary notes (PDF, 845KB)

Planning Technical Working Group - Meeting 5 - 28 June 2022

PTWG hui 5, 28 June 2022 - slidepack (PDF, 2.2MB)
PTWG hui 5, 28 June 2022 - summary notes (PDF, 876KB)

Planning Technical Working Group - Meeting 6 - 28 June 2022

PTWG hui 6, 12 July 2022 - slidepack (PDF, 1.1MB)
PTWG hui 6, 12 July 2022 - summary notes (PDF, 910KB)

Planning Technical Working Group - Meeting 7 - 17 August 2022

PTWG hui 7, 17 August 2022 - slidepack (PDF, 983KB)

Rural Supplies Technical Working Group

The Water Services Act requires all drinking water suppliers, other than domestic self-suppliers, to provide safe drinking water and meet drinking water standards. This is to ensure all communities receive safe drinking water, no matter where they live or who supplies this service.

The Rural Supplies Technical Working Group developed principles and agreed how parties will work together to manage the impacts on rural drinking water suppliers and rural communities, and developed recommendations to inform advice to Ministers on proposed legislation.

In June 2022 Cabinet took decisions on policy matters including that, consistent with a recommendation from the Rural Supplies Technical Working Group, users of council-owned mixed use rural water can choose to directly own and operate their schemes, independent of a Water Services Entity.

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Individual council models and slide packs

(Archived June 2023)

The following information includes simplified versions of the financial models WICS used in its 2021 analysis of the potential economic benefits of water services reform. These models demonstrate the approach WICS took to calculate average household costs for each council and amalgamated entity, including how these have been informed by the information councils provided through the Request for Information process.

In addition to these models, there are accompanying slide packs for each council and amalgamated entity that set out the results of analysis to test the sensitivity of the modelling to key assumptions, including assumptions around levels of efficiency and future investment need. As the sensitivity analysis on a stand-alone council basis was completed prior to cabinet decisions on the preferred number and boundaries of entities, the slide packs for councils on a stand-alone basis report on an illustrative amalgamation scenario (either scenario 2 or 3 in the WICS analysis) which is slightly different to the Government’s preferred scenario (scenario 30). The models, slide packs and sensitivity analysis for the amalgamated entities have been prepared on the basis of the Government’s preferred scenario.

Proposed entities

Entity

Entity models and slide packs 

Council groupings

Entity A
  • Auckland
  • Far North
  • Kaipara
  • Whangarei

Entity B
  • Hamilton
  • Hauraki
  • Kawerau
  • Matamata-Piako
  • New Plymouth
  • Opotiki
  • Otorohanga
  • Rangitikei
  • Rotorua Lakes
  • Ruapehu
  • South Taranaki
  • South Waikato
  • Stratford
  • Taupo
  • Tauranga
  • Thames-Coromandel
  • Waikato
  • Waipa
  • Waitomo
  • Western Bay of Plenty
  • Whakatane
  • Whanganui

Entity C
  • Carterton
  • Central Hawke's Bay
  • Chatham Islands
  • Gisborne
  • Hastings
  • Horowhenua
  • Kapiti Coast
  • Lower Hutt
  • Manawatu
  • Marlborough
  • Masterton
  • Napier
  • Nelson
  • Palmerston North
  • Porirua
  • South Wairarapa
  • Tararua
  • Tasman
  • Upper Hutt
  • Wairoa
  • Wellington

Entity D
  • Ashburton
  • Buller
  • Central Otago
  • Christchurch
  • Clutha
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Grey
  • Hurunui
  • Invercargill
  • Kaikoura
  • Mackenzie
  • Queenstown Lakes
  • Selwyn
  • Southland
  • Timaru
  • Waimakariri
  • Waimate
  • Waitaki
  • Westland

Local council models and slide packs

Local council

Council models and slide packs

Ashburton District Council

Auckland District Council

Buller District Council

Carterton District Council

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council

Central Otago District Council

Chatham Islands Council

Christchurch City Council

Clutha District Council

Dunedin City Council

Far North District Council

Gisborne District Council

Gore District Council

Grey District Council

Hamilton City Council

Hastings District Council

Hauraki District Council

Horowhenua District Council

Hurunui District Council

Invercargill City Council

Kaikoura District Council

Kaipara District Council

Kāpiti Coast District Council

Kawerau District Council

Lower Hutt City Council

Mackenzie District Council

Manawatu District Council

Marlborough District Council

Masterton District Council

Matamata-Piako District Council

Napier City Council

Nelson City Council

New Plymouth District Council

Ōpōtiki District Council

Ōtorohanga District Council

Palmerston North City Council

Porirua City Council

Queenstown-Lakes District Council

Rangitikei District Council

Rotorua District Council

Ruapehu District Council

Selwyn District Council

South Taranaki District Council

South Waikato District Council

South Wairarapa District Council

Southland District Council

Stratford District Council

Tararua District Council

Tasman District Council

Taupo District Council

Tauranga City Council

Thames-Coromandel District Council

Timaru District Council

Upper Hutt City Council

Waikato District Council

Waimakariri District Council

Waimate District Council

Waipa District Council

Wairoa District Council

Waitaki District Council

Waitomo District Council

Wellington City Council

Western Bay of Plenty District Council

Westland District Council

Whakatāne District Council

Whanganui District Council

Whangarei District Council

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Request for Information (RFI)

Local Dashboard (updated 30 June 2021)

Background
Purpose of the RfI
Information requested
Support to complete the RfI
Webinar and clinic schedule (updated December 2020)
Documents and links (updated January 2021)

 

Local Dashboard

Please click on the link below to view the Local Dashboard. Use the drop down menu to view data for your local council:

See the Individual council models and slide packs page for simplified versions of the financial models WICS used in its analysis of the potential economic benefits of three waters reform.

Local Authority Financial Impact Tool

The Local Authority Financial Impact Tool (Financial Impact Tool) seeks to provide local authorities with a better understanding of the potential impact of the proposed three waters reform on their financial position.

Based on Councils LTP data, the Financial Impact Tool has been developed to help provide some high level insights to local authorities with respect to:

  • their indicative financial position following the transfer of three waters assets, liabilities and revenues through reform;
  • indicative key financial metrics and potential impact on council credit ratings and borrowing capacity as a result of the proposed reforms; and
  • an indication of the level of government support from the “no worse off” funding package if local authorities’ ability to borrow is forecast to be negatively affected by the transfer.
  • Local Authority Financial Impact Tool (Financial Impact Tool) [Excel, 8.66MB] 

Flat File

Across the country, information on the health and performance of three waters infrastructure has historically been limited and of variable quality. The need to improve information about three waters service delivery was jointly identified as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between local authorities and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in late 2020. This included a commitment to openly sharing information and analysis undertaken to date on the state of the system for delivering three waters services and the quality of the asset base.

The information presented in the Flat File is based on submissions to a significant Request for Information (RfI) that individual local authorities undertook from October 2020 to February 2021.

Background

In August 2020 the Crown signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (PDF, 204KB) with all eligible Local Authorities to support the improvement in three waters service delivery for communities with the aim of realising significant public health, environmental, economic, and other benefits over the medium to long term.

As part of the Three Waters Reform Programme MoU, the Crown has provided stimulus funding to support economic recovery post COVID-19 and address persistent systemic issues in the three waters sector.

The Request for Information (RfI) process was signalled through the MoU that all eligible Territorial Authorities signed with the Crown.

The MoU included a commitment to “openly sharing information and analysis undertaken to date on the state of the system for delivering three waters services and the quality of the asset base”.

Local government sector representatives have also expressed a clear desire for more detailed modelling and analysis to understand the potential impacts and advantages of the reform at a local level.

Purpose of the RfI

The RfI collected the information necessary to undertake detailed analysis to support advice on the options for reform to the Steering Committee, local government elected members and Ministers over the coming months.

The information gathered through this RfI is an important part of the Reform Programme. It ensures we have quality information to enable New Zealand to make appropriate decisions as the reforms progress.

The Department of Internal Affairs commissioned work from specialist economic, financial and commercial advisors to support detailed analysis and modelling using the information gathered through this RfI.

This analysis allows us to better understand the current state of the three waters related asset base and condition of the assets, the operating environment, commercial and financial arrangements and the forecast investment plans. It also helps us to identify the potential impacts of reform on the local government sector relative to the status quo.

Information requested

There were two components to the RfI, each council was required to complete one of these:

  • A general request to all Local Authorities to supply information that will be used to inform advice and commercial and financial analysis
  • A detailed request to a sample of Local Authorities to supply further information (in addition to that above) to enable more detailed economic analysis to inform the options for reform without placing significant demands on the resources of all authorities.

The request structure enabled a detailed economic analysis to be undertaken on a representative sample of councils. This approach ensured a robust analysis to inform the options for reform without placing significant demands on the resources of all Local Authorities.

The Local Authorities identified for the representative sample were selected to ensure an appropriate spread of council types, geographies and underlying drivers of need.

The response deadline for all local authorities to submit the completed RfI is Monday 1 February 2021.

Support to complete the RfI

The Department of Internal Affairs is conscious of the significance of this request and took steps to leverage alternative data sources, to reduce the amount of information being collected, and to make support available to Local Authorities.

On this page you will find a set of guidance documents to support local authorities in completing the standardised response templates. The Department will also deliver support webinars and instructional videos throughout the RfI process. When available these will be linked below.

In addition, Officials ran weekly technical guidance and support drop-in clinics. A summary of the clinics that have already been held is linked below.

Webinar and clinic schedule

The schedule below outlines the webinars and clinics undertaken throughout the RfI process.

Webinar clinic date and timeTopics to be covered

Clinic summaries

9 – 10am Wed 28 October 2020

Technical overview of the response templates

  

8 – 11am Tues 3 November 2020

Discuss templates, raise questions or specific issues

Clinic summary - 3 Nov 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 38KB)

Clinic summary - 3 Nov 2020 - PDF (PDF, 154KB)

8 – 11am Tues 10 November 2020

General Q&A, J Tabs Asset Replacement

Clinic summary - 10 Nov 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 50KB)

Clinic summary - 10 Nov 2020 - PDF (PDF, 176KB)

8 – 9.30am Tues 17 November 2020

Short session, general Q&A, coincides with Water NZ conference opening

Clinic summary - 17 Nov 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 41KB)

Clinic summary - 17 Nov 2020 - PDF (PDF, 135KB)

8 – 11am Tues 24 November 2020

Templates AA and F/Commercial and Financial

Clinic summary - 24 Nov 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 31KB)

Clinic summary - 24 Nov 2020 - PDF (PDF, 206KB)

8 – 11am Tues 1 December 2020

Templates E and G/Opex and Capex

Clinic summary - 1 Dec 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 310KB

Clinic summary - 1 Dec 2020 - PDF (PDF, 497KB)

9 – 10.30am Friday 4 December 2020

Workbook II session

Clinic summary - 4 Dec 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 21KB)

Clinic summary - 4 Dec 2020 - PDF (PDF, 145KB)

8 – 11am Tues 8 December 2020

Templates B and C/Session on standards and levels of service

Clinic summary - 8 Dec 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 54KB)

Clinic summary - 8 Dec 2020 - PDF (PDF, 190KB)
8 – 9.30am Tues 15 December 2020 Q & A session only

Clinic summary - 15 Dec 2020 - WORD (DOCX, 35KB)

Clinic summary - 15 Dec 2020 - PDF (PDF, 124KB)
8 – 9.30am Tues 12 January 2021 Q & A session only 

Clinic summary - 12 Jan 2021 - WORD (DOCX, 42KB)

Clinic summary - 12 Jan 2021 - PDF (PDF, 1MB)

Common F table questions (XLSX, 340KB)
8 – 9.30am Tues 19 January 2021 Q & A session only 

Clinic summary - 19 Jan 2021 - WORD (DOCX, 48KB)

Clinic summary - 19 Jan 2021 - PDF (PDF, 248KB)

Documents and links

Key documents

Supporting videos:

Supporting Schedules:

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Reform Programme Engagement 2021 - The 8-week period

Over August and September 2021, central and local government agreed to pause on taking decisions on reform next steps to enable local government time to consider the reform proposals. This was an opportunity for the local government sector to engage with the model and the proposal and provide feedback, at both the national level and as it relates to your community. Local Government New Zealand led this engagement with the local government sector, with support from the Department and Taituarā.

Councils were not expected to make any formal decisions regarding the reform through this period, as such this period did not trigger the need for formal consultation. See Three Waters Guidance for Councils - August and September 2021 for more information.

Find out more about the Local government feedback on reform proposals

Past engagements

The below gives a brief overview of engagement undertaken between May 2020 and October 2021 on the three waters reform proposals. Materials from these engagements are linked below.

May 2020 - Central/Local Government Forum - Reform Programme Initiated

Cabinet and LGNZ National Council agree partnership approach to progress three waters services delivery reform.

July/August 2020 - Nationwide workshop series one: Introduction to the Reform Programme and Stimulus Package

  • 3 pre-workshop webinars
  • 14 in-person workshops with local government and their mana whenua partners.
  • Approximately 1000 attendees
  • 1 post-workshop webinar

September/October 2020 - Nationwide workshop series two: Hui-ā-motu - Reform Programme overview and introduction to Taumata Arowai

  • 2 pre-workshop webinars
  • 17 in-person workshops with iwi/hapū and their local govt partners
  • Approximately 300 attendees
  • 1 post-workshop webinar

October 2020-February 2021 - Request for Information support for council staff

  • 12 online clinics with open question and answer sessions
  • Drop-in room at WaterNZ Conference
  • Regular online information releases
  • One-on-one support sessions with councils
  • Individualised WICS (Water Industry Commission for Scotland) feedback sessions
  • Dedicated Taituarā Account Manager and WICS supporting contacts

March 2021 - Nationwide workshop series three: Reform programme update and test emerging policy proposals

  • 2 pre-workshop webinars
  • 8 in-person workshops with iwi/hapū and local govt
  • Approximately 960 attendees

July 2020 to October 2021 - Regular update emails, webinars, meetings and technical reference groups

  • 10+ update emails to mana whenua contacts o 20+ update emails to Mayors and CEs - These are also available online See: Updates from the Steering Committee
  • 20+ Mayoral Forum, Zone/sector meetings/discussions
  • 20+ formal and multiple informal discussions/ hui with iwi/hapū representatives
  • 18 Central/local government Steering Committee meetings
  • 20+ Technical/Māori Reference Group meetings and 15+ workshops/meetings with industry and Māori groups

Engagement materials

Sector Engagement 2020

In July/August 2020 the Steering Committee held a series of engagements with local government and iwi/Māori partners to discuss the process to access the stimulus funding, and an overview of the reform programme’s direction of travel.  

This first engagement provided a forum for councils considering signing up to the reform programme to raise issues and work through questions ahead of signing the MoU. 

See the Archived Documents section below for materials produced as part of this engagement.

Iwi/Māori interests and engagement

The Department of Internal Affairs held a series of hui and workshops with iwi/Māori through the Three Waters Review and the establishment of Taumata Arowai. Engagement on the proposed three waters reform built on these previous engagements with iwi/Māori to more fully understand Treaty rights of interests over the course of the reform period.

In August/September 2020. The Department of Internal Affairs and Taumata Arowai held a series of hui-ā-motu across New Zealand with iwi/hapū/Māori groups to provide an early look at the reform programme and discuss rights and interests in the reforms ahead of policy development.

See the Archived Documents section section below for materials produced as part of this engagement.

Archived documents

Key Documents

Cabinet Papers and Minutes

Reports

Sector Engagement

Iwi/Māori Engagement (October 2020)

MOU

Funding Allocations

Funding Agreement and Delivery Plan

Previous Cabinet Papers and Minutes

Updates from the Steering Committee

Steering Committee meeting summaries

2020 Media Releases

Contact us

If you have any queries, please email: waterservicesreform@dia.govt.nz

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