Marlborough District Council has appointed the inaugural board of Marlborough Waters Limited, the new water services organisation that will take responsibility for the region’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services from 1 July 2027.
Warren McNabb has been appointed Board Chair, alongside four independent directors – Kevin Lavery, Pat Dougherty, Rōpata Taylor and Murray Strong – following a competitive selection process.
Mayor, Nadine Taylor said the appointments marked a significant milestone in the establishment of Marlborough Waters.
“This is an important step forward. We have appointed a dedicated governance team with the expertise and experience to lead an organisation that will be responsible for our water infrastructure, serving communities right across Marlborough,” said the Mayor.
“We have been working hard to get the foundations right, and appointing a strong, capable board is central to that. These are people who understand what it takes to run complex infrastructure at scale, and who are committed to delivering for the people of Marlborough.
“Marlborough Waters remains 100% owned by Marlborough District Council – this is our community’s water infrastructure, and that is not changing. What is new is that we now have a dedicated team of experts focused solely on delivering and improving our water services for the long term.”
Incoming Board Chair, Warren McNabb said the board was under no illusion about the scale of the task ahead, or the opportunity it represented.
“Marlborough’s water infrastructure is a significant public asset, built up over generations, and our job is to make sure it continues to serve this community well into the future,” he said.
“A council-controlled water services organisation has the advantage of being able to spread the cost of infrastructure over a longer period, to achieve better intergenerational equity. The board is committed to running Marlborough Waters with transparency and accountability.
“We are inheriting a strong establishment foundation, and we look forward to working alongside Council, staff, and the community as Marlborough Waters moves towards full operations in July 2027.”
The board appointments are a requirement of the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation, which requires that directors be independent and appointed based on their professional competencies. Elected members and Council staff cannot sit on the board.
Marlborough Waters was formally incorporated on 9 July 2026 and will become fully operational on 1 July 2027, when it will take over responsibility for water services currently delivered by Marlborough District Council.
The organisation will oversee a $410 million infrastructure investment programme over the next 10 years, much of it driven by new Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai – compliance requirements, as well as maintaining and upgrading a network that serves over 80% of Marlborough’s homes and businesses.
Marlborough Waters board members:
Warren McNabb, Board Chair
Warren brings more than 20 years’ governance experience across infrastructure and utilities, alongside deep commercial, financial and investment expertise. He currently chairs Port Marlborough and has held numerous governance leadership roles, including Chair of Alpine Energy and the Independent Electricity Generators Association. With strong regional connections and an understanding of local expectations, he is well placed to lead the board in balancing commercial discipline with community and environmental outcomes.
Kevin Lavery
Kevin Lavery brings extensive experience leading major public organisations and complex infrastructure programmes. He has held Chief Executive roles at Wellington City Council, Cornwall Council and a large UK health system, and has direct Local Water Done Well establishment experience through his roles as Chair of IAWAI and Establishment Chief Executive of the Tauranga and Western Bay waters CCO. His background in local government, strategic leadership and water reform will support Marlborough Waters as it prepares to take responsibility for the region’s three waters services.
Pat Dougherty
Patrick Dougherty brings more than 40 years of engineering, water service delivery and local government leadership experience, with extensive expertise in water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. He has held senior executive roles including Chief Executive of Wellington Water, Nelson City Council and Kapiti Coast District Council, and recently served on the New Zealand Transport Agency Board. He brings significant governance experience alongside his deep technical and strategic knowledge of the water sector.
Rōpata Taylor
Rōpata Taylor is a highly experienced director with more than 25 years’ governance and executive leadership experience across iwi organisations, council-controlled organisations and commercial enterprises. He currently serves as Chair of Whakarewa Trust, as a board member of the NZ Charter Schools Authority and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua, and is a trustee of Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust. Rōpata brings significant expertise in strategic governance, environmental management, and water infrastructure, together with strong connections across Te Tauihu iwi and the Marlborough community.
Murray Strong
Murray Strong is an experienced professional director and independent chair who has served on 24 boards and chaired 19 organisations across infrastructure, utilities, government, technology and major capital projects. He currently chairs Selwyn Water Limited, New Zealand’s first water services council-controlled organisation established under the Local Water Done Well reforms, bringing direct experience in the establishment and governance of a modern water utility. Murray has extensive expertise in infrastructure governance, organisational design and large-scale capital investment.
