The working group will play a key role in overseeing the due diligence process and shaping the future delivery of water services in partnership with Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and potentially other councils in due course.
The multi-council WO model is designed to improve access to funding for water infrastructure, create advantages of scale and deliver high-quality, affordable water services to communities. Early modelling shows potential savings of around $3,000 per connection over a 10-year period, compared to an in-house delivery model.
A commitment agreement has been signed with Western Bay of Plenty District Council, enabling due diligence to begin. The Elected Member Working Group will ensure that the process reflects the needs and priorities of Tauranga’s communities.
In September 2025, Tauranga City Council submitted its Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) to the Department of Internal Affairs. The plan outlines how the city will manage water supply, wastewater and stormwater services over the next decade, and a plan for implementation.
Chair of the Elected Member Working Group and Tauriko Ward Councillor Marten Rozeboom says the work programme ahead is a huge undertaking, but the Council needs to set our city up to keep delivering great quality water services into the future.
“Residents can be assured that the Council’s priority remains delivering affordable, equitable and high-quality water services,” says Marten.
“No immediate changes will be noticeable to customers as the transition is carefully planned over the next two years and will only go ahead if we’re comfortable with the findings of the due diligence process.
“We will keep our community updated throughout the process, as key milestones are reached.”
This work aligns with the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, which came into effect on 27 August 2025, setting a new framework for how councils across Aotearoa deliver water services.
To learn more about the future of water services in Tauranga visit our webpage.
The Terms of Reference for the working group are also available here.