Consultation opens on future delivery of council water services
Rotorua Lakes Council is calling for community feedback on a preferred option for future delivery of water supply, stormwater and wastewater services.
Council has identified keeping these services in-house as its preferred option.
This follows a joint investigation with Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau councils into the potential establishment of an asset-owning multi-council water services council-controlled organisation (WSCCO).
The investigation was part of the four councils’ water services delivery plans which were required under the government’s Local Water Done Well policy and assess current water infrastructure, future investment needs, how services will be funded and the preferred way to deliver them.
The investigation found Rotorua is well positioned to continue delivering water services in-house, while also identifying potential longer-term benefits from a multi-council WSCCO.
“This is a major decision for council and we want to get it right,” Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell says.
“We remain open-minded and need feedback from the community to help us make a final decision in December.”
Community consultation will run from 1 to 30 October, giving people the opportunity to provide feedback on Council’s preferred in-house option and the alternative multi-council model.
“What we need to know is does Rotorua want to keep our local voice and look after waters ourselves or combine with the three Eastern Bay of Plenty councils to be more affordable, with an estimated rates reduction of $216 per year.
“Rotorua is also unique as our landowner and iwi/hapu relationships are critical to ongoing water services delivery, for example the agreements we have with Ngāti Rangiwewehi and Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara relating to their springs which, combined, supply water to about 70 per cent of our urban areas,” Mayor Tapsell says.
“The investigation overseen by a working group of representatives from the four councils to look into the potential for a multi-council model, found both strength in Rotorua Lakes Council’s current in-house service delivery model and the multi-council option.
“We’re mindful that previously our community has been clear they want ownership and control, so currently keeping water services in-house is the preferred option for our Council. But we want to understand the community’s views now that we have financial savings information before making our final decision.”
People will be able to give feedback in several ways and public sessions will provide opportunities for people to hear information from elected members and council staff to help inform feedback and submissions.
Hearings where the public can speak directly to Council will be held in November, ahead of a final decision in early December.
All relevant information can be accessed via Rotorua Lakes Council’s engagement platform Participate at the following link: rlc.net.nz/WaterReforms
The three eastern Bay of Plenty councils are also yet to make their final decisions on future delivery of water services. Ōpōtiki and Kawerau district councils have deferred making decisions for consultation until the outcome of the local government reforms Head Start process is known. Whakatāne is consulting on its preferred option, a multi-council WSCCO.
UPDATE 6 October 2026
Whakatāne has now postponed its consultation.
See more at the following link: Whakatāne District's consultation on future water services delivery postponed | Whakatāne District Council
