WATER

Local Water Done Well: National Programme

Department of Internal Affairs / Councils · National / Multi-region

National's Local Water Done Well, successor to the repealed Three Waters, keeps water assets in local ownership through new council-controlled water organisations. Five began operating on 1 July 2026: Waikato's IAWAI and Waikato Waters, Wellington's Tiaki Wai, a joint Kaikoura-Hurunui organisation, and Selwyn Water. A further 13 are expected within a year, which would put about three-quarters of New Zealanders with an organisation established under the reform and owned by 46 councils. Auckland keeps Watercare under a rewritten charter and Christchurch keeps delivery in-house. A published forecast puts water investment at about $47.9b over the ten years to 2034: $17b drinking water, $22.5b wastewater, $8b stormwater.

Favourable signals Data: High

Delivery Confidence Score, 0 to 100, higher is better: a ranking of how strong this project's delivery signals are, not a probability. It blends eight factors, including the election risk and policy alignment shown below.

Breakdown▾

Data current as at 13 Jun 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.

Key facts

Region: National / Multi-region
Sector: Water
Status: Under Construction
Estimated value: $47.9b
Indicative completion: 2034
Funding status: Part Funded
Lead organisation: Department of Internal Affairs / Councils
Election risk: Medium

Election risk assessment

Water reform has flip-flopped with each government (Three Waters to Local Water Done Well) and the framework remains contested, but councils' pipe renewals continue under any government. Restructure risk rather than cancellation risk.

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
2026First five council-controlled water organisations begin operating (1 July): IAWAI, Waikato Waters, Tiaki Wai, the Kaikoura-Hurunui joint organisation and Selwyn Water
2027A further 13 organisations expected, covering about three-quarters of New Zealanders across 46 councils

Source

DIA: Water Services Policy and Legislation ↗ · Beehive / RNZ (LWDW $47.9b forecast, 2026) ↗ · Beehive: Major milestone reached for Local Water Done Well ↗

View Local Water Done Well: National Programme on the live map →