Hastings District Council has voted to proceed with a joint regional water services organisation to deliver drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services for the district.
The decision, made at today’s Council meeting, means Hastings will join Central Hawke’s Bay and Napier City Councils in forming a new, jointly owned Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) – a regional model enabled under Central Government’s Local Water
Done Well reform programme.
Hastings Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst said the move reflected both strong community support and a clear focus on long-term resilience, affordability and local control.
“Our community told us they want cost-effective solutions, but they also want to know their water assets remain in local ownership,” Mrs Hazlehurst said.
“This model delivers both. It keeps ownership in the hands of councils, protects ratepayer investment, and gives us the scale and expertise to meet national standards without burdening individual councils with unsustainable debt.”
The decision follows extensive community consultation earlier this year. Of the more than 1,000 submissions received, 83% supported the regional model. Submitters cited cost efficiencies, better access to skilled staff, regional collaboration, and more professional, independent governance as key benefits.
While the original proposal included Wairoa District Council, Wairoa has since opted to establish its own local water services organisation. Mayor Hazlehurst acknowledged their decision while reaffirming the benefits of the regional model.
“We respect Wairoa’s decision to go its own way. For Hastings, working alongside our neighbouring councils remains the most effective and efficient way to secure the future of our three waters infrastructure.”
Under the new model:
- Councils will retain ownership and control through a formal Heads of Agreement and shared governance arrangements;
- Ownership of water assets (and all associated debt and liabilities) would transfer to the organisation, but be ring-fenced to each council area;
- The WSCCO will be governed independently but remain accountable to the councils that own it.
The Council says key benefits of the regional model include:
- Greater economies of scale, helping reduce costs over time;
- Improved ability to recruit and retain specialist staff;
- More agile, coordinated responses to national regulatory requirements;
- Reduced pressure on councils’ balance sheets, freeing up borrowing for other community priorities.
Next steps will see council staff work with Napier and Central Hawke’s Bay to finalise a joint Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP), due to Government by 3 September 2025. This plan will outline how the regional model will be implemented and ensure it complies with the Water Services Entities Act.
“This is a significant reform – but it’s one we’ve helped shape alongside our community,” Mayor Hazlehurst said.
“It’s a decision that balances affordability with accountability, and sets us up to meet the challenges of today while protecting water services for future generations.”
The new organisation is expected to be established by July 2026.
