- Three Waters Reform Programme
- About the Reform Programme
- Iwi/Māori interests
- Working groups
- National Transition Unit
- Reform Programme Engagement
- Information for councils
- Key information
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Request for Information
- Taumata Arowai
- Three Waters Review
- Government Inquiry into Havelock North Drinking Water
- Archived information
Cabinet decisions and reform proposals
On this page
- Media releases from the Minister of Local Government Hon Nanaia Mahuta
- Request for Information – Local Dashboard release
Cabinet papers and minutes and Regulatory Impact Analysis (updated 5 September 2022)
Reform proposals
The section below provides information to support councils, and communities, to understanding the reform proposals.
- Three Waters Reform Programme Overview – A3 - 30 June 2021 [PDF, 1MB]
- FAQs - Transforming the system for delivering three waters - 30 June 2021 [PDF, 827KB]
- Water Service Entities - Overview - 30 June 2021 [PDF, 744KB]
- Transforming the system for delivering three waters services - the case for change and summary of proposals - 30 June 2021 [PDF, 2MB]
Media releases from the Minister of Local Government Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta confirmed the Government will create four publicly owned water entities to ensure every New Zealander has access to affordable, long-lasting drinking, waste and storm water infrastructure without ballooning costs to households and families. Read more below.
- 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
- Government to consider next steps in three waters reforms – 1 October 2021
- 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]
Request for Information – Local Dashboard release
The local dashboard provides a series of indicator that users can interact with to see information relevant to their councils. The dashboards draw on information that was supplied by councils in February 2021 and as such may not reflect what is in councils’ final Long-Term Plans.
Cabinet papers and minutes and Regulatory Impact Analysis
Cabinet paper and minute – Policy proposals for three waters service delivery legislative settings
In June 2022 Cabinet took decisions on policy matters to ensure the new Water Services Entities will have the necessary legislative functions, duties, and powers to be fully operational from their ‘go live’ date on 1 July 2024.
These decisions include 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.
These decisions will feed into a second piece of legislation enacting the three waters reform, which will be introduced later this year.
- Cabinet paper and minute – Policy proposals for three waters service delivery legislative settings (PDF, 4MB)
Earlier cabinet papers and minutes
In 2021 Cabinet took decisions on the key design features of the reform proposals including, size, boundaries, ownership, and protections of iwi/Māori rights and interests. The Department’s Regulatory Impact Analysis provides a comprehensive analysis of alternate options for reform that were considered through the reform programme.
In October 2021, Cabinet took decisions to progress with the reforms to ensure all New Zealand communities can benefit from the reforms.
- Cabinet Paper - Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for-New Zealand) Regulations 2022, 2 June 2022 [PDF, 1.3MB]
- 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 – 30 June 2021 [PDF, 2.8MB]
- 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, 16MB]
- 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 Act Commencement Order 2021 and Taumata Arowai – the Water Services Regulator Act 2020 Commencement Order (No 2) 2021 [PDF, 2MB]
- 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: ThreeWaters@dia.govt.nz
