Local Water Done Well

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Young boy drinking water by the kitchen sink while his mother watches over him.

Who should manage Kāpiti Coast water services in the future?

Delivering water services has always been a core Council responsibility. Collectively known as "three waters", water supply, wastewater collection, treatment and discharge, and stormwater management are crucial to well-functioning and healthy communities.

The Government's new 'Local Water Done Well' policy and associated legislation requires all councils to consider how they will manage and deliver these services in the future. This is to ensure your drinking water remains safe to use, sources of drinking water are adequately protected, and your three waters are managed in financially sustainable ways.

One of our district's biggest decisions in decades

In Kāpiti, we're proud of our water services track record – we have safe, clean water, good infrastructure, well-run operations and great staff. While our current arrangements have served us well, we must think about what would be best for Kāpiti long-term, and if we'll benefit from economies of scale if we join forces with other councils.

We're required by Government to consult with our community on at least two options and submit a water services delivery plan by 3 September. Joining a wider Wellington region water services organisation has been discounted as the modelled costs to our ratepayers were more than double those of other options. Instead, we've been working with the Horowhenua, Manawatū and Palmerston North councils to see if joining with them would provide sufficient economies of scale and other efficiencies that would offer long-term benefits for our community. It’s important to note there’ll be increased costs regardless of what model we choose due to Government’s additional regulatory requirements and proposed levies.

What are our options?

We invited your feedback on two options for managing and making decisions on how our water services are delivered in future.

Map showing Kāpiti Coast District with Option 1 'The One' and 'our preferred option' in a speech bubble.

Option 1 – ‘The One’

Keeping our water services delivery in-house as we do now, but with additional effort and resourcing required to ensure we meet regulatory requirements. This is our preferred option.

Current number of connections: 24,663
Current population: 58,750

Modelled average cost to customers for all three water services:

  • 2025 $1,645 per annum
  • 2034 *$2,023 per annum
  • 2054 *$2,749 per annum

* including inflation


Map showing Kāpiti Coast, Palmerston North, Horowhenua and Manawatū for Option 2 'The Four'.


Option 2 – ‘The Four’

A four council-owned water services organisation with Horowhenua, Palmerston North, and Manawatū. This option would require us to transfer our water assets to the new organisation of which Council would be a shareholder. .

Current number of connections: 71,212
Current population: 223,750

Modelled average cost to customers for all three water services:

  • 2025 not applicable
  • 2034 *$2,656 per annum
  • 2054 *$2,594 per annum

* including inflation

How you could have your say

Read our consultation documentRead our consultation document to understand the options and their advantages and disadvantages, as well as what future water charges could cost customers. You could let us know who you think should manage and make decisions about your water services by:

Consultation closed at midnight Sunday 13 April 2025.


Webinar questions and feedback

Thanks to everyone who joined Mayor Janet Holborow and our water experts for a Zoom webinar at 5.30pm on Monday 24 March.

Watch the webinar replay | View answers to the questions that were asked

We're also keep updating our frequently asked questions throughout the consultation period.



What happens next?

You can elect to speak to your submission at hearings scheduled for Thursday 1 May by checking the box in the submission form. All submissions will be taken into consideration when Council makes a final decision on future water services delivery on Thursday 22 May.

In June, Council will adopt a water services delivery plan outlining how the new entity will be governed and operate. This must be delivered to the Government by Wednesday 3 September 2025.

Once the Government approves the plan, implementation of the new water services organisation will be well under way. Government has given a deadline of July 2028 for all new arrangements to be in place.

Keen to stay updated?

Register to join the conversation, and sign up for Everything Kāpiti, to get the latest on what's happening across our district straight to your inbox – including events, grant funding opportunities for youth, and other ways you can get involved.

Young boy drinking water by the kitchen sink while his mother watches over him.

Who should manage Kāpiti Coast water services in the future?

Delivering water services has always been a core Council responsibility. Collectively known as "three waters", water supply, wastewater collection, treatment and discharge, and stormwater management are crucial to well-functioning and healthy communities.

The Government's new 'Local Water Done Well' policy and associated legislation requires all councils to consider how they will manage and deliver these services in the future. This is to ensure your drinking water remains safe to use, sources of drinking water are adequately protected, and your three waters are managed in financially sustainable ways.

One of our district's biggest decisions in decades

In Kāpiti, we're proud of our water services track record – we have safe, clean water, good infrastructure, well-run operations and great staff. While our current arrangements have served us well, we must think about what would be best for Kāpiti long-term, and if we'll benefit from economies of scale if we join forces with other councils.

We're required by Government to consult with our community on at least two options and submit a water services delivery plan by 3 September. Joining a wider Wellington region water services organisation has been discounted as the modelled costs to our ratepayers were more than double those of other options. Instead, we've been working with the Horowhenua, Manawatū and Palmerston North councils to see if joining with them would provide sufficient economies of scale and other efficiencies that would offer long-term benefits for our community. It’s important to note there’ll be increased costs regardless of what model we choose due to Government’s additional regulatory requirements and proposed levies.

What are our options?

We invited your feedback on two options for managing and making decisions on how our water services are delivered in future.

Map showing Kāpiti Coast District with Option 1 'The One' and 'our preferred option' in a speech bubble.

Option 1 – ‘The One’

Keeping our water services delivery in-house as we do now, but with additional effort and resourcing required to ensure we meet regulatory requirements. This is our preferred option.

Current number of connections: 24,663
Current population: 58,750

Modelled average cost to customers for all three water services:

  • 2025 $1,645 per annum
  • 2034 *$2,023 per annum
  • 2054 *$2,749 per annum

* including inflation


Map showing Kāpiti Coast, Palmerston North, Horowhenua and Manawatū for Option 2 'The Four'.


Option 2 – ‘The Four’

A four council-owned water services organisation with Horowhenua, Palmerston North, and Manawatū. This option would require us to transfer our water assets to the new organisation of which Council would be a shareholder. .

Current number of connections: 71,212
Current population: 223,750

Modelled average cost to customers for all three water services:

  • 2025 not applicable
  • 2034 *$2,656 per annum
  • 2054 *$2,594 per annum

* including inflation

How you could have your say

Read our consultation documentRead our consultation document to understand the options and their advantages and disadvantages, as well as what future water charges could cost customers. You could let us know who you think should manage and make decisions about your water services by:

Consultation closed at midnight Sunday 13 April 2025.


Webinar questions and feedback

Thanks to everyone who joined Mayor Janet Holborow and our water experts for a Zoom webinar at 5.30pm on Monday 24 March.

Watch the webinar replay | View answers to the questions that were asked

We're also keep updating our frequently asked questions throughout the consultation period.



What happens next?

You can elect to speak to your submission at hearings scheduled for Thursday 1 May by checking the box in the submission form. All submissions will be taken into consideration when Council makes a final decision on future water services delivery on Thursday 22 May.

In June, Council will adopt a water services delivery plan outlining how the new entity will be governed and operate. This must be delivered to the Government by Wednesday 3 September 2025.

Once the Government approves the plan, implementation of the new water services organisation will be well under way. Government has given a deadline of July 2028 for all new arrangements to be in place.

Keen to stay updated?

Register to join the conversation, and sign up for Everything Kāpiti, to get the latest on what's happening across our district straight to your inbox – including events, grant funding opportunities for youth, and other ways you can get involved.

Ask a question

Please read our frequently asked questions. If you have a question that we haven't covered, you can ask us here and we'll do our best to respond as soon as possible. Please be concise and respectful in asking questions as they'll be available for everyone to see. Some answers may take a bit longer to get the details right. 

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  • Share I am a resident of both Paekākāriki and Wellington city. In reviewing the water reform proposals for each I am unclear how, if Wellington's preferred option proceeds (an arrangement for a jointly owned water services organisation, whose owners include the Greater Wellington Regional Council) Kāpiti can either retain its current arrangement or move to a joint one with northern areas. My confusion is because I believe from looking at LGNZ documentation that Kāpiti is part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which presumably makes it a stakeholder of the preferred Wellington option. And if Kāpiti Council goes for the 2nd option, it would presumably have some relationship to do with water management with the Wanganui - Manawatu Regional Council. I can't see any discussion of these potential jurisdictional complexities in the documentation. I may have misunderstood but I thought that regional councils have special roles in relation to water management. on Facebook Share I am a resident of both Paekākāriki and Wellington city. In reviewing the water reform proposals for each I am unclear how, if Wellington's preferred option proceeds (an arrangement for a jointly owned water services organisation, whose owners include the Greater Wellington Regional Council) Kāpiti can either retain its current arrangement or move to a joint one with northern areas. My confusion is because I believe from looking at LGNZ documentation that Kāpiti is part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which presumably makes it a stakeholder of the preferred Wellington option. And if Kāpiti Council goes for the 2nd option, it would presumably have some relationship to do with water management with the Wanganui - Manawatu Regional Council. I can't see any discussion of these potential jurisdictional complexities in the documentation. I may have misunderstood but I thought that regional councils have special roles in relation to water management. on Twitter Share I am a resident of both Paekākāriki and Wellington city. In reviewing the water reform proposals for each I am unclear how, if Wellington's preferred option proceeds (an arrangement for a jointly owned water services organisation, whose owners include the Greater Wellington Regional Council) Kāpiti can either retain its current arrangement or move to a joint one with northern areas. My confusion is because I believe from looking at LGNZ documentation that Kāpiti is part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which presumably makes it a stakeholder of the preferred Wellington option. And if Kāpiti Council goes for the 2nd option, it would presumably have some relationship to do with water management with the Wanganui - Manawatu Regional Council. I can't see any discussion of these potential jurisdictional complexities in the documentation. I may have misunderstood but I thought that regional councils have special roles in relation to water management. on Linkedin Email I am a resident of both Paekākāriki and Wellington city. In reviewing the water reform proposals for each I am unclear how, if Wellington's preferred option proceeds (an arrangement for a jointly owned water services organisation, whose owners include the Greater Wellington Regional Council) Kāpiti can either retain its current arrangement or move to a joint one with northern areas. My confusion is because I believe from looking at LGNZ documentation that Kāpiti is part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which presumably makes it a stakeholder of the preferred Wellington option. And if Kāpiti Council goes for the 2nd option, it would presumably have some relationship to do with water management with the Wanganui - Manawatu Regional Council. I can't see any discussion of these potential jurisdictional complexities in the documentation. I may have misunderstood but I thought that regional councils have special roles in relation to water management. link

    I am a resident of both Paekākāriki and Wellington city. In reviewing the water reform proposals for each I am unclear how, if Wellington's preferred option proceeds (an arrangement for a jointly owned water services organisation, whose owners include the Greater Wellington Regional Council) Kāpiti can either retain its current arrangement or move to a joint one with northern areas. My confusion is because I believe from looking at LGNZ documentation that Kāpiti is part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which presumably makes it a stakeholder of the preferred Wellington option. And if Kāpiti Council goes for the 2nd option, it would presumably have some relationship to do with water management with the Wanganui - Manawatu Regional Council. I can't see any discussion of these potential jurisdictional complexities in the documentation. I may have misunderstood but I thought that regional councils have special roles in relation to water management.

    AG asked 9 days ago

    Good question! Kapiti Coast District Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council are separate local authority entities with separate functions. Kapiti Coast District Council is directly responsibility for delivering water services (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater) on the Kapiti Coast. 

    The Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has an environmental regulatory role as a regional council, including ensuring the sustainable use of water resources by administering resource consents for water takes, bores, and discharges to land and water. Additionally, GWRC provides bulk drinking water to the metropolitan areas of Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt. In partnership with Wellington Water, GWRC collects, treats, and supplies fresh water to these cities. The delivery of water services in Kapiti is separate to the regional council's bulk water function for the other councils in the Wellington region. 

     

  • Share Councillors and council experts are surly more knowledgeable at making and managing this decision. Why ask the ill informed public. Just get on with doing your job at the least cost and most efficient way. Make a decision and tell us. If it ain’t broke don’t change. Keep Kapiti seperate to the Manawatu and in your control. on Facebook Share Councillors and council experts are surly more knowledgeable at making and managing this decision. Why ask the ill informed public. Just get on with doing your job at the least cost and most efficient way. Make a decision and tell us. If it ain’t broke don’t change. Keep Kapiti seperate to the Manawatu and in your control. on Twitter Share Councillors and council experts are surly more knowledgeable at making and managing this decision. Why ask the ill informed public. Just get on with doing your job at the least cost and most efficient way. Make a decision and tell us. If it ain’t broke don’t change. Keep Kapiti seperate to the Manawatu and in your control. on Linkedin Email Councillors and council experts are surly more knowledgeable at making and managing this decision. Why ask the ill informed public. Just get on with doing your job at the least cost and most efficient way. Make a decision and tell us. If it ain’t broke don’t change. Keep Kapiti seperate to the Manawatu and in your control. link

    Councillors and council experts are surly more knowledgeable at making and managing this decision. Why ask the ill informed public. Just get on with doing your job at the least cost and most efficient way. Make a decision and tell us. If it ain’t broke don’t change. Keep Kapiti seperate to the Manawatu and in your control.

    Timot asked 29 days ago

    Thanks for your thoughts Timot. Be sure to make a submission too.

  • Share I favour option 1, but Question1: What position are Horowhenua, Manawatu and Palmerston North favouring? Are any of those local bodies proposing amalgamating their water assets with those of Kapiti? Question 2: Who makes the call, and against what criteria, if the other three of the four in Option 2 wish to merge assets, but Kapiti opts for Option 1? Question 3: What provision is there to manage situations where local bodies who are 'unloved' by their neighbours, can't go it alone and finish up without a 'dance partner'? on Facebook Share I favour option 1, but Question1: What position are Horowhenua, Manawatu and Palmerston North favouring? Are any of those local bodies proposing amalgamating their water assets with those of Kapiti? Question 2: Who makes the call, and against what criteria, if the other three of the four in Option 2 wish to merge assets, but Kapiti opts for Option 1? Question 3: What provision is there to manage situations where local bodies who are 'unloved' by their neighbours, can't go it alone and finish up without a 'dance partner'? on Twitter Share I favour option 1, but Question1: What position are Horowhenua, Manawatu and Palmerston North favouring? Are any of those local bodies proposing amalgamating their water assets with those of Kapiti? Question 2: Who makes the call, and against what criteria, if the other three of the four in Option 2 wish to merge assets, but Kapiti opts for Option 1? Question 3: What provision is there to manage situations where local bodies who are 'unloved' by their neighbours, can't go it alone and finish up without a 'dance partner'? on Linkedin Email I favour option 1, but Question1: What position are Horowhenua, Manawatu and Palmerston North favouring? Are any of those local bodies proposing amalgamating their water assets with those of Kapiti? Question 2: Who makes the call, and against what criteria, if the other three of the four in Option 2 wish to merge assets, but Kapiti opts for Option 1? Question 3: What provision is there to manage situations where local bodies who are 'unloved' by their neighbours, can't go it alone and finish up without a 'dance partner'? link

    I favour option 1, but Question1: What position are Horowhenua, Manawatu and Palmerston North favouring? Are any of those local bodies proposing amalgamating their water assets with those of Kapiti? Question 2: Who makes the call, and against what criteria, if the other three of the four in Option 2 wish to merge assets, but Kapiti opts for Option 1? Question 3: What provision is there to manage situations where local bodies who are 'unloved' by their neighbours, can't go it alone and finish up without a 'dance partner'?

    C'est moi asked about 1 month ago

    Thanks for your question. Both Horowhenua and Palmerston North’s preferred option is ‘The Four’, that is the joint-council-owned organisation that also includes Manawatū and Kāpiti Coast. Like our Council, Manawatū’s preferred option is an in-house business unit. 

    These councils are also consulting with their communities at the same time as us:
    Palmerston North, Horowhenua, Manawatū (click on each to see what they are consulting on). 

    Following feedback from our respective communities, each Council will make a decision on which option they would like to go with. 

    Should any of the four councils ‘opt out’, the remaining willing councils will need to decide if they will still wish to join forces or assess other viable options. For example, Palmerston North have suggested they could go with other councils in the Horizons Region (Manawatū-Whanganui) which also includes Horowhenua. 

Page last updated: 14 Apr 2025, 06:56 AM