NZ InfraWatch
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Local Water Done Well — National Programme
Department of Internal Affairs / Councils · National / Multi-region
National’s Local Water Done Well — successor to Labour’s repealed Three Waters — keeps water assets in local ownership via new council-controlled water organisations. New entities take over services from 1 July 2026 (e.g. Tiaki Wai Metro Water for the Wellington region ~432,000 people; Waikato Waters Ltd), while Auckland retains Watercare under a rewritten charter and Christchurch keeps in-house delivery. Represents tens of billions in pipes and treatment investment over coming decades.
Key facts
- Region
- National / Multi-region
- Sector
- Water
- Status
- Under Construction
- Estimated value
- $15b
- Indicative completion
- 2034
- Funding status
- Part Funded
- Lead organisation
- Department of Internal Affairs / Councils
- Election risk
- Extreme
Election risk assessment
Water reform has flip-flopped with each government (Three Waters → Local Water Done Well); future direction remains politically contested.
Government priority alignment
HIGH — The government's own Local Water Done Well framework — a core policy priority.
Chronology
- 2020Labour’s Three Waters reform proposed
- 2023National elected; moves to repeal Three Waters
- 2024Local Water Done Well legislation; councils choose delivery models
- 2026New council-controlled water entities take over services (1 July)