FAQs
When the company is operational (from 1 July 2027), the Board and management of the company will have responsibility for the provision of water infrastructure and delivery of services in the region and will make all operational decisions.
The company’s strategy and investment plans will be set out in its Water Services Strategy which will be a publicly available document. The Strategy will need to be consistent with the priorities set by Councils and iwi in the Statement of Expectations.
A CCO is an organisation that is established by a Council (or group of Councils) as a separate legal entity. Ultimately a CCO is accountable to the Council (or Councils) that are the shareholders of the company, but is run independently, with independent management and governance.
No, this is not a step towards privatisation. The CCO will be wholly owned by the four councils and water reform legislation prevents the privatisation of waters organisations – water organisations can only be owned by councils or trustees of a consumer trust. The Wairarapa Tararua organisation is owned by the four councils.
It takes time to set the organisation up properly and to manage the transition from four councils into one new organisation. For example, we need to recruit new people, develop new IT systems, and put new governance structures in place – all of this takes time to do properly and in a way that minimises risks for customers and the community.
No, the new company will send you your water bill from July 2027. You will no longer pay for water services in your rates bill. We will provide you with more information closer to July 2027 about how you will be able to pay your bill. Until then, the four Councils continue to be responsible for water services delivery, and you pay your water bill through your rates.
This is a region-wide change, and the decision was taken by the four Councils following community consultation. The company will provide water services to all connected water users in the region.
Maintaining continuity of service for the community is the most important objective of the transition. Drinking water and wastewater services will continue as normal.
You won’t notice much about the change apart from your water bill, which will come from the new organisation rather than your council, when the company is up and running.
The Board, Chief Executive and senior management of the company will be appointed throughout 2026. We will provide updates on this site on those appointments as they are made. As the first step, Board appointments are expected to be completed in March 2026.
The Stakeholders’ Forum is the representative group of Councils and iwi that provides oversight of the company. The Forum members are – Mayor Scott Gilmore (TDC), Mayor Fran Wilde (SWDC), Deputy Mayor Craig Bowyer (Chair, MDC), Councillor Brian Deller (CDC), Tipene Chrisp (Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust), Robin Potangaroa (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust).