43566 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

43566 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: What penalties will apply to councils or council-controlled water entities that fail to comply with drinking water or wastewater regulations under the Local Water Done Well framework?

Hon Simon Watts: • There are a number of penalties available under the Water Services Act to be determined by the courts, for example the maximum fine for negligent failure to comply with drinking water standards by a body corporate is $1.5 million. • The Water Services Authority has a range of punitive and non-punitive compliance and enforcement tools and will take action in a fair and proportionate way. Infringement regulations with lesser penalties may be developed in future. • Wastewater regulations will be enforced mainly through consenting and planning processes by regional councils under the Resource Management Act.