FAQs
Yes – water will still come from your tap plus go where it should (down a stormwater drain, or down the toilet). Maintaining continuity of service for the community is the most important objective of the transition. Ideally, 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
Simply put, no. The new organisation will be responsible for the water services you receive so that is who you pay too. The company will provide information closer to July 2027 about how you will be able to pay your bill.
No. Your council undertook community consultation and voted to make this change following the results of that. It is a district-wide move.
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.
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.
No. Your council undertook community consultation and voted to make this change following the results of that. It is a district-wide move.