Statement on water invoice delays and increased charges

Kāpiti Coast District Council has delayed sending out quarterly water usage invoices and is aware of the frustration and uncertainty this may be causing customers.

Following a recent upgrade to our online systems, we identified an issue with the way we invoice volumetric water supply rates. We’ve been working hard to resolve this but have had to pause invoicing while we carry out final testing and check to make sure customers receive accurate bills.

This means some customers' next invoices will cover approximately six months of water usage rather than the usual three. We understand this may be concerning for some households, particularly as the cost of water has also increased.

While some customers have already been notified of the delay and increase by email, those who receive their invoices by post may not yet have received this information.

The increase in the charge per cubic metre (1,000 litres), from $1.72 to $2.27 (including GST), has also been a shock for some ratepayers.

Council has a strong track record of investing in water infrastructure and delivering reliable water services. We’re committed to building on this to ensure our community continues to have access to safe, reliable water services now and into the future.

In the Annual Plan 2026/27, Council’s budgeted water costs increased by $5.17 million compared with 2025/26. This is due to several factors, including rising costs, staff costs, and continuing our investment in maintaining and upgrading our water infrastructure. We’ve also budgeted for the transition to our new in-house water services business unit, under Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms. The new business unit will begin operating on 1 July 2027.

It’s important for people to note that Council’s overall rates revenue increase for 2026/27 was 6.5% after growth, and this includes increases to water rates.

We appreciate people's patience while we work to get invoicing back on track and that receiving a larger-than-usual bill may put pressure on household budgets.

Anyone with concerns is encouraged to contact our Rates team. They can talk through individual accounts, provide an estimate of water usage ahead of the next invoice and discuss payment arrangements if needed.

We’ll also be taking a flexible approach to waiving late payment penalties for the November and January instalments where invoice delays have affected a household’s ability to pay on time.