45438 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

45438 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: Further to his reply to Question 43564 (2025), has he sought any advice to help build an understanding of possible regional variations in the affordability of water services across New Zealand, following the submission of councils’ Water Services Delivery Plans under his Local Water Done Well programme and if not, why not?

Hon Simon Watts: As part of providing support to councils, officials at the Department of Internal Affairs (Department) reviewed the water content of long-term plans, where available at the beginning of 2025. Data in the long-term plans shows the existing regional variations in the affordability of water. The inclusion of creating multi-council water services council-controlled organisations (CCOs) under Local Water Done Well was to enable councils to share costs and find ways to reduce costs on ratepayers. Local Water Done Well does not require price harmonisation in the formation of water services CCOs. Some councils may choose to take higher price paths due to trade-offs they are balancing within their communities. Until all the plans have been reviewed by the Department, I cannot comment on the specific choices each council has made and the price variations between them.