Council’s Water Services Delivery Plan gets the green light

Kāpiti Coast District Council’s commitment to keeping the management of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services in-house has reached another key milestone, with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) approving the Council’s Water Services Delivery Plan.

Under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reform programme, councils across Aotearoa were required to submit delivery plans to demonstrate how they will meet new regulatory and reporting requirements and achieve financial sustainability by 1 July 2028.

Mayor Janet Holborow said the approval marks an important step forward for Kāpiti.

“A lot of mahi went into preparing our Water Services Delivery Plan, and DIA approval gives us certainty about how our three waters services will be delivered in the years ahead,” Mayor Holborow said.

“I’m proud of the previous Council’s decision to retain management of our water services in-house, and I’m confident this model will continue to serve our community well—both now and into the future.”

The Department of Internal Affairs approval confirms that the Council’s plan meets the requirements of section 20(1)(b) of the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024.

Council’s Group Manager for Infrastructure and Asset Management, Sean Mallon, said the endorsement enables the Council to progress its transition plans.

“Providing safe, reliable water services remains our top priority,” Mr Mallon said.

“DIAs endorsement means we can now move ahead with establishing a stand-alone internal business unit for water, wastewater, and stormwater services by 1 July 2027. This will allow us to ring-fence our water operations from other Council activities to meet new regulatory requirements.”

The approval reinforces the Council’s locally led approach to managing essential water infrastructure while ensuring compliance with national standards and long-term financial sustainability.