This omnibus Government bill sets up a new regulatory framework for the delivery of water services by local authorities, as part of the Government's 'Local Water Done Well' programme. It was passed by Parliament and received Royal assent.
This omnibus Government bill sets up a new framework for how local councils deliver the "three waters" — drinking water, wastewater (sewage) and stormwater. It is the main piece of the Government's "Local Water Done Well" programme. Councils must show their water services are financially sustainable and can either keep running them or set up dedicated, publicly owned water organisations, potentially shared between neighbouring councils. The bill also strengthens economic and quality oversight — with bodies such as the Commerce Commission and the water services regulator monitoring pricing and standards — while keeping water assets in local, public hands.
It reflects a National-led coalition commitment and replaces the previous Government's "Three Waters" reforms, repealing that legislation. Supporters argue it keeps water infrastructure under local control and ownership while forcing councils to fund long-overdue upgrades and maintenance. Opponents contend it does not fix the underlying problems of scale and cost, could push up household water charges or open the door to privatisation, and drops the earlier model's iwi/Māori co-governance and Te Mana o te Wai protections.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.