Why Waikato Waters was created
Across Aotearoa New Zealand, water services face growing pressure. Communities are expecting reliable services, strong environmental performance, safe drinking water, and infrastructure that can meet future demand. Many councils also face increasing costs, ageing assets, changing regulations, and the need for long-term investment.
Waikato Waters has been established to respond to those challenges through regional collaboration — bringing councils together to build a dedicated water services organisation focused solely on delivering these essential services.
Our purpose is simple: to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable water services for our communities. That means delivering safe drinking water, managing wastewater responsibly, building and maintaining infrastructure, protecting the health of people and the environment, and providing services communities can trust.
Tō Mātou Kaupapa
Te Mana o Te Wai, Te Mana o Te Tangata — Healthy Water, Healthy People.
This reflects our belief that the wellbeing of water and the wellbeing of people are closely connected. When water is healthy, communities thrive.
Our approach recognises the importance of stewardship, partnership, responsibility, and making decisions that support both present and future generations.
Te Mana o Te Wai, Te Mana o Te Tangata
Healthy Water, Healthy People — the wellbeing of water and the wellbeing of people are closely connected. This belief sits at the heart of every decision Waikato Waters makes.
Working together across the region
Waikato Waters is council-owned and locally connected. Our shareholding councils have chosen to work together because many water challenges are bigger than any one district or city.
By planning and investing together, we can share expertise and resources, build resilience across the region, deliver services more efficiently over time, support consistent standards, and keep decision-making connected to local communities.
Ē ono ngā kaunihera, kotahi te rohe
Waikato Waters is owned by six shareholding councils — Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Ōtorohanga, South Waikato, Waitomo, and Waipā. Together, these councils represent communities across the Waikato region.
What this means for our customers today
Waikato Waters is being established in stages. Right now, many customer services are still managed by your local council, including things like billing, service requests, and some day-to-day enquiries. That means your experience should remain familiar while the new organisation is built. As services transition over time, we'll keep communities informed every step of the way.
Looking ahead, we are building an organisation designed for the future — one that values people, protects water, works in partnership, and delivers services communities can rely on every day. This is more than infrastructure. It is about caring for something essential, together.