Whanganui District Council to decide on water services model

Published on 10 July 2025

Whanganui District councillors will next week decide on a water services model for our district. This decision will help shape how our district’s drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services will be delivered into the future.

The adoption of a water services model is part of Government’s Local Water Done Well programme, a new approach to managing water services that returns greater control to local councils while requiring them to meet strict national regulatory and performance standards.

Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe says councillors will consider four viable options.

“Importantly Whanganui is in the enviable position of having all options on the table because we have invested well in our water infrastructure and have strong future investment,” Mayor Andrew says.

“This upcoming decision is hugely important. I think I speak for all councillors when I say no one is taking it lightly.”

Three of the water service delivery options to be discussed at the council meeting, were shared with the community during public engagement earlier this year. These include:

• A standalone Whanganui District Council-owned Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO)

• A larger multi-council CCO involving as many councils as possible

• An in-house business unit (status quo)

The Ruapehu, Rangitīkei and Whanganui CCO model is no longer viable following Rangitīkei’s decision to join a larger entity. However, the council will consider a Ruapehu and Whanganui CCO model.

“Following our community consultation in March, councillors and staff have continued discussions with all neighbouring councils,” Mayor Andrew says.

“The good news is that we are fortunate so many partners want to work with us, allowing us to have multiple credible options to choose from, each with real benefits.

What’s most important to our council is choosing the path that delivers for our community now and into the future.”

In addition, all potential partners have agreed that a non-harmonised (local) pricing approach should be the basis for proceeding with any water services delivery model.

“We heard loud and clear that our community wants us to consider local pricing, and we are pleased our neighbours are on the same page.”

Local pricing would see residents within each district charged on the same basis as currently, but where savings are realised, these can be shared. Customers would benefit from these savings, while paying costs that relate only to the delivery of services in their district.

Mayor Andrew says deferring the decision to July has also allowed more time to appraise each proposed model from a Te Awa Tupua perspective.

“Ultimately, we are putting the health and wellbeing of the community and our awa over and above what could be the best outcome for the council or the final entity -whatever structure that may take.”

Despite extending the time to decide on a delivery model, the council expects to meet the Government’s requirement to submit a plan by early September this year.

Whanganui’s water services delivery model will be decided at the next council meeting on Tuesday 15 July. If Whanganui’s preferred option is approved by central government, implementation will begin towards the latter part of this year. If a new water services CCO is selected as the preferred option, it could be established by mid-2026 and fully operational by mid-2027.