Bay of Plenty Councils Explore Shared Water Services Option

Four Bay of Plenty councils are continuing discussions on the future of local water services, stressing no decisions have yet been made.

Kawerau District Council, Rotorua Lakes Council, Whakatāne District Council and Ōpōtiki District Council met in Kawerau this week as part of an ongoing investigation into whether a shared water services entity could benefit their communities.

The group, which includes mayors, chief executives, councillors and technical experts, is working towards a formal report due later in 2026.

The report will assess potential long-term costs and savings, service levels, resilience, sustainability, and organisational capability under a joint model.

Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui said the meeting was a valuable opportunity to continue discussions following community engagement undertaken last year.

Mayor Tunui said feedback from Kawerau had indicated a strong preference for retaining water services in-house, and the council was already adjusting its internal processes to align with national requirements.

However, she said it remained important to examine all options.

“It is about making sure our decisions are based on the best outcomes for our community,” she said.

“That includes understanding possible savings, risks, benefits and opportunities over the long term.”

Mayor Tunui said councils were balancing financial considerations with the need to keep communities informed, uphold partnerships with iwi, and meet government expectations under the “Local Water Done Well” framework.

She emphasised the process was still in an early stage.

“This is an investigation, not a decision,” she said.

“Any future decision will involve extensive consultation with our communities.”

The councils are now compiling financial data and information on drinking water and wastewater assets to support the analysis.

Further engagement with residents and iwi partners is expected over the coming months, ahead of the release of the report later this year.