It recognises the importance of local decision-making and for councils to determine, with community input, how their water services (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater) will be delivered in the future. The policy will also ensure a strong emphasis on meeting economic, environmental and water-quality regulatory requirements.
More information about Local Waters Done Well policy and legislation is available on the New Zealand Government Department of Internal Affairs website.
On 24 June 2025 Taupō District councillors decided to retain the council's water services in-house for now, and review the decision in two years. Find out more.
All councils are required to develop a Water Services Delivery Plan by September 2025. The plan needs to outline how water services will be delivered and financed into the future.
