Plan approval sets stage for future Ruapehu-Whanganui water services
Published on 24 November 2025
Joint media release - Whanganui and Ruapehu district councils
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has formally signed off the joint Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) for Ruapehu and Whanganui District Councils under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms.
This approval clears the way for the creation of a two-council Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WS-CCO), which will deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services to around 25,000 water connections across both districts. The assets will be retained in public ownership.
Assessment of the WSDP was carried out by a panel made up of senior representatives from funding agencies, the Commerce Commission, the Water Services Authority, the DIA, and an independent external observer.
In approving the plan, Secretary for Local Government Paul James acknowledged the level of detail and the considerable time both councils put into its development.
The new WS-CCO is planned to be operational by July 2027.
Until then, Ruapehu and Whanganui will continue to manage their own water services.
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said, “This decision gives us the certainty to move ahead together.
“We’ve chosen a model that balances keeping decision-making as local as possible within our shared catchment and providing benefits of greater scale while at the same time reflecting the values of Te Awa Tupua.
“It is important to both councils that the health of the river and the well-being of our communities guide our choices and sit at the centre of the WS-CCO from the beginning,” Mayor Tripe said.
“I’m looking forward to our councils taking the next steps together to formally establish the WS-CCO and appoint the new Board and Chief Executive,” he said.
From next year, the DIA will monitor progress on the development of the WS-CCO on a quarterly basis.
They have indicated they will focus on two key areas being the pricing strategy and its impact on projected water service charges for Ruapehu District, and delivery of projects required to achieve regulatory compliance.
The Secretary for Local Government has also signalled an expectation that the WS-CCO will explore options for price harmonisation and potential future collaboration with other entities to access the benefits of scale and help address Ruapehu’s affordability challenges.
Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton said he welcomes DIA’s recognition of Ruapehu’s unique affordability pressures.
“We know that many of our communities face significant challenges in being able to pay for basic services,” he said.
“While these expectations are not conditions of the WSDP approval - and the plan does not require price harmonisation or joining with others in the short term - it makes clear that ensuring the WS-CCO can deliver the most affordable water services possible must be a key priority.
“The immediate focus, however, is on delivering our commitment to work together and build a WS-CCO based on Te Awa Tupua values, within the tight timeframe set out in the approved WSDP.
“Establishing the WS-CCO in a Te Awa Tupua way now will put us in a strong position to ensure that any potential future larger entity continues to balance local voice with the benefits of scale,” he said.
A copy of the acceptance letter from the Secretary for Local Government and the approved WSDP is available on both councils’ websites. The Plan Assessment Report will be published on the DIA website.