The Whakatāne District Council is reminding residents that time is nearly up to share their views on the future of local water services, with the Local Water Done Well formal consultation closing at 5pm this Sunday, 18 May.
Over the past few weeks, elected members and staff have been out in the community, talking with residents and gathering feedback on a proposal that will shape how water services are delivered across the district for years to come.
The Government’s new Local Water Done Well legislation replaces the previous Three Waters reform programme. While the overall goals remain the same - safe, sustainable, and efficient water services - the new framework gives councils more flexibility in how to achieve them. All councils must now prepare a Water Services Delivery Plan by 3 September 2025, either individually or in partnership with others.
Mayor Dr Victor Luca says the Council has completed a detailed assessment and is now seeking final input on two shortlisted delivery models.
“We’ve examined what’s needed to meet both the legal requirements and the specific needs of our district,” says Mayor Luca. “Now we want to hear from the people we serve, before we make any final decisions.”
The two options currently under consultation are:
• A Multi-Council Controlled Organisation (Multi-CCO) – Council’s preferred option. This model would see Whakatāne District Council join with other councils to form a jointly owned water services entity. It offers access to shared resources, expert capability, and greater efficiency, while retaining local ownership and governance.
• A standalone business unit within Council – An alternative option where Whakatāne District Council continues to deliver water services internally through a dedicated unit with its own structure and oversight.
“We’ve done the groundwork to understand what’s possible,” Mayor Luca says. “Now it’s your turn to help shape the direction. Water services might be out of sight, but they affect all of us every day. We want to ensure they remain safe, reliable, environmentally responsible, and affordable — now and into the future.”
Public consultation opened on Thursday, 17 April and will close at 5pm, Sunday 18 May.
To read the full proposal and have your say, visit:
koreromai.whakatane.govt.nz/wai-it-matters
