Water Services Delivery Plans
Updated: 18 November 2025
Water Services Delivery Plans (Plans) are a way for councils to demonstrate their commitment to deliver water services that meet regulatory requirements, support growth and urban development, and that are financially sustainable.
Through the development of Plans, councils will provide an assessment of their water infrastructure, how much they need to invest, and how they plan to finance and deliver it through their preferred water service delivery model.
Plans are a transitional requirement under the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024.
The Act sets out the content, timeframe and process for developing and accepting Plans.
Councils are required to develop and submit Plans, either individually or with other councils, by 3 September 2025 (unless an extension is granted).
The Secretary for Local Government holds responsibility for accepting or not accepting Plans.
On this page:
- Accepted Water Services Delivery Plans (updated 7 October 2025)
- Guidance, templates and supporting materials
- Plan review and acceptance process (29 May 2025)
- What support is available?
- Frequently Asked Questions (updated April 2025)
- Further support
Accepted Water Services Delivery Plans
The following Water Services Delivery plans have been accepted by Secretary for Local Government. The table below includes a link to the plan as published on the council website, and a link to the DIA assessment that supported the decision to accept the plan.
Note: The Department’s assessment reports of Water Services Delivery Plans have been factchecked by the relevant councils. The format of assessment reports will vary depending how a plan is structured.
|
Council/grouping |
Date accepted |
Link to plan |
DIA assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Selwyn District Council |
3 July 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Selwyn District Council (PDF, 331KB) |
|
|
Waimakariri District Council |
21 July 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Waimakariri District Council (PDF, 631KB) |
|
|
Hamilton City Council Waikato District Council |
23 July 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report - Hamilton City and Waikato District (PDF, 550KB) |
|
|
South Taranaki District Council |
17 September 2025 |
South Taranaki District Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
WSDP Assessment Report – South Taranaki District Council (PDF, 851KB) |
|
Hurunui District Council |
17 September 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Hurunui and Kaikōura (PDF, 767KB) |
|
|
Taupō District Council |
17 September 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Taupō District Council (PDF, 929KB) |
|
|
Hauraki District Council |
17 September 2025 |
Hauraki District Council Water Services Delivery Plan Matamata-Piako Water Services Delivery Plan Ōtorohanga District Council Water Services Delivery Plan South Waikato District Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
WSDP Assessment Report – Waikato Water (PDF, 1.4MB) |
|
Central Otago District Council Clutha District Council Gore District Council |
24 September 2025 |
Central Otago District Council Water Services Delivery Plan Clutha District Council Water Services Delivery Plan Gore District Council Water Services Delivery Plan
|
WSDP Assessment Report – Southern Water Done Well (PDF, 818KB) |
|
Far North District Council
Kaipara District Council
Whangārei District Council |
24 September 2025 |
Far North District Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
WSDP Assessment Report – Northland grouping (PDF, 1.2MB) |
|
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Hutt City Council
Porirua City Council
Wellington City Council
Upper Hutt City Council |
24 September 2025 |
Greater Wellington Regional Council Water Services Delivery Plan Hutt City Council Water Services Delivery Plan Porirua City Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
WSDP Assessment Report – Wellington Metro (PDF, 1MB) |
|
Invercargill City Council |
9 October 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Invercargill City Council (PDF, 804KB) |
|
|
Central Hawke’s Bay District Council Hastings District Council Napier City Council |
15 October 2025 |
Central Hawke’s Bay District Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
WSDP Assessment Report – Hawke’s Bay grouping (PDF, 965KB) |
|
Ashburton District Council |
20 October 2025 |
TBC |
|
|
Kāpiti Coast District Council |
24 October 2025 |
WDSP Assessment Report – Kāpiti Coast District Council (PDF, 980KB) |
|
|
Timaru District Council |
28 October 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Timaru District Council (PDF, 761KB) |
|
|
Rotorua Lakes Council |
28 October 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Rotorua Lakes Council (PDF, 957KB) |
|
|
Christchurch City Council |
28 October 2025 |
TBC |
|
|
Kawerau District Council |
29 October 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Kawerau District Council (PDF, 973KB) |
|
|
Stratford District Council |
29 October 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Stratford District Council (PDF, 973KB) |
|
|
Whakatāne District Council |
30 October 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – Whakatāne District Council (PDF, 915KB) |
|
|
Ōpōtiki District Council |
30 October 2025 |
TBC |
|
|
New Plymouth District Council |
31 October 2025 |
WSDP Assessment Report – New Plymouth District Council (PDF, 915KB) |
|
|
Queenstown Lakes District Council |
3 November 2025 |
Queenstown Lakes District Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
TBC |
|
Horowhenua District Council Palmerston North District Council Rangitikei District Council |
10 November 2025 |
Horowhenua District Council Water Services Delivery Plan Palmerston North District Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
TBC |
|
Dunedin City Council |
10 November 2025 |
TBC |
|
|
Thames-Coromandel District Council |
10 November 2025 |
Thames-Coromandel District Council Water Services Delivery Plan |
TBC |
|
Waitaki District Council |
Amended Water Services Delivery Plan due 30 June 2026 |
|
WSDP Assessment Report – Waitaki District Council (PDF, 786KB) |
Guidance, templates and supporting materials
The Department has developed Plan guidance, templates and other supporting materials to support councils’ development of Plans.
Further information and guidance to inform councils’ consideration of future water services delivery arrangement is available here: Information and guidance for councils
Further information about the enduring settings under Local Water Done Well is available here: Future Delivery System
Guidance for developing your Plan
This guidance is to assist councils to develop their Plans. It covers:
- A high-level outline of the Plan development process, from preparation and development through to adoption, review and acceptance of Plans
- Legislative requirements for Plans, including content, development process, engagement with communities, submission, acceptance and review, and implementation
- Matters to consider for councils that are proposing to develop a joint Plan
- Guidance and support available to develop Plans.
Councils should review this Plan guidance in detail, alongside the Plan template and other supporting materials, before beginning development of their Plans.
Read Guidance for preparing Water Services Delivery Plans (PDF, 587KB, 52 pages) (updated October 2024)
View the Indicative timeline for Water Services Delivery Plan development (PDF, 132KB) (November 2024)
Template for Plans
This template is for councils to use to develop their Plan. It includes additional guidance for joint council Plans.
The template is pre-populated with instructions about what information needs to be included in each part of the Plan.
The template can be used ‘as is’ by councils preparing individual plans. Where groups of councils choose to submit a joint plan, they will need to work with the Department to identify an agreed approach to populate the financial and asset information for the joint arrangement.
Most of the information needed to complete the Plan template is expected to be able to be sourced from councils’ existing public documents. For example, long-term plans, financial accounts and asset management plans.
A separate template for financial projections is available in Excel format, to help councils develop the financial projections for their Plan, and to inform the financial sustainability test.
Download the Water Services Delivery Plan template (DOCX, 269KB, 28 pages)
Template for financial projections and financial sustainability test
This template is to assist councils in developing the financial projections and financial measures to support councils’ self-assessment of financial sustainability, required as part of their Plans.
The template is for councils to populate with their data. It is pre-populated with calculations and chart references, to enable councils to create the information and charts required in the Plan template.
The Department will prepare a version of this template populated with publicly available council data (from councils’ long-term plans), on councils’ request. We encourage all councils to request a populated financial model, which you can do my emailing the Plan team at wsdp@dia.govt.nz.
Download the Water Services Delivery Plan financial template (XLSX, 99KB)
Further information about financial considerations and guidance for councils is available here: Information and guidance for councils
Plan review and acceptance process
The Department has developed guidance for councils about the Plan review and acceptance process. It covers:
- Key milestones and what to expect at each phase
- The Plan review and assessment process, including the Department’s Plan Review Panel that will provide subject matter expertise
- What happens once a decision is made on accepting a Plan
- How to submit your Plan, and the adoption and certification process before submission.
The guidance complements the Plan guidance material and templates linked above, which outlines the measures by which Plans will be assessed.
Councils should review this guidance in detail before submitting their Plans to the Department.
Read Water Services Delivery Plan review and acceptance process - May 2025 (PDF, 307KB, 9 pages)
What support is available?
The Department is available to support councils in the development of their Plans. This includes:
- Holding virtual information sessions with councils to provide information and guidance
- Providing technical support, such as with Council led financial analysis.
The Department is also available to review draft Plans before they are submitted, where councils have specific questions or concerns. Our review of draft Plans will focus on identifying any major issues that will impact our ability to accept a Plan (as opposed to a general review ahead of submission).
Councils are encouraged to contact the Plan team at wsdp@dia.govt.nz if they need support or have questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about the Plan development process are here:
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 320KB, 12 pages) (updated April 2025)
These FAQs are updated on regular basis.
Further support
If a council or a group of councils need support with developing their Plan, they can ask the Minister of Local Government to appoint a Crown facilitator or Crown water services specialist (at the council’s expense) by making a request in writing.
The Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 enables the Minister of Local Government to appoint a Crown facilitator(s) or Crown water services specialist, if it would be beneficial to assist a council(s) to prepare a Plan that meets legislative requirements.
Each appointment and term will depend on the individual circumstances of the council(s).
About these roles
|
Support option |
About the role |
|---|---|
|
Crown Facilitator |
The role of a Crown facilitator is to assist a council or group of councils to prepare or give effect to a Water Services Delivery Plan. A Crown facilitator can provide tailored guidance, facilitate collaboration among councils, or assist with joint planning efforts. These facilitators are not necessarily there to impose decisions but to help councils develop robust, achievable and financially sustainable Plans that meet their unique needs. For example, a Crown facilitator could guide a council through the preparation of a Plan or work with multiple councils to facilitate or negotiate a joint Plan. If requested and agreed upon by the councils, the facilitator can also determine the terms of a joint arrangement to help resolve challenges and ensure progress. A Crown facilitator can be an individual or a panel of people, enabling access to a range of specialist expertise and experience. Find out more about Crown Facilitators and the Crown Facilitator appointment process (PDF, 187KB). |
|
Crown water services specialist |
The role of a Crown water services specialist can include to prepare a Plan on behalf of a council or group of councils, and (if necessary) to direct the council(s) to adopt, submit and implement this Plan. |
A written request for a Crown facilitator or Crown water services specialist can be sent directly to the Minister, or the Department via email to wsdp@dia.govt.nz.
