In February 2026, Council considered the issue of stormwater and confirmed that Council will take an integrated approach to the responsibility and delivery of stormwater, water supply and wastewater. This means that all three waters will be the responsibility of one water services provider.
Due diligence is still underway to support the multi-council Water Organisation with Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and a final sign-off is expected to be made at a Council meeting on 2 April 2026.
Council has also confirmed that stormwater reserves and other land used for stormwater purposes will remain in council ownership (on a case-by-case basis), recognising the wider community, recreational, environmental and biodiversity benefits. Largely, it will be the “hard” stormwater infrastructure, such as pipes, pumps, inlets and outlets, that will transfer across to the new Water Organisation if one is established.
To manage the project, Tauranga City Council established an Elected Member Working Group late last year to help guide the city's transition to a new multi-council Water Organisation.
The working group will play a key role in overseeing the due diligence process and further shaping the future delivery of water services in partnership with Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Joint Working Group
The Joint Working Group guides discussions on the multi-council Water Organisation, due to be operational by 2027. The group includes representatives from Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and tangata whenua, with independent chair, Lyall Thurston.
Membership includes:
- Tauranga City Council: Mayor Mahé Drysdale, Cr Marten Rozeboom, Cr Hautapu Baker, Cr Glen Crowther, Cr Kevin Schuler
- Western Bay of Plenty District Council: Mayor James Denyer, Cr Grant Dally, Cr Darlene Dinsdale, Cr Graeme Elvin, Cr Rodney Joyce
- Tangata Whenua: Hon. Kiritapu Allan, Roana Bennett, Rohario Murray, Shadrach Rolleston, Kylie Smallman, Hakopa Tapiata
This group will help shape decisions that ensure cultural, environmental, and community values are at the heart of future water services.
Establishment Chief Executive
The recruitment for an Establishment Chief Executive has started, with the intention of finalising an appointment in early-April, if the Councils agree to a joint water organisation at that time.
A new way to govern
We will be looking at how the governance framework might be shaped to ensure the new multi-council Water Organisation is set up for success. This includes ensuring the Board of Directors has the necessary skills and expertise to provide effective oversight and strategic direction.
Given Council are in a phase of due diligence, appointments will begin once all the necessary transition steps have been taken.
Shareholding arrangements
Through a joint council document called the Statement of Expectations, the new water organisation would be responsible for delivering water services. The new Board of Directors would be focused on achieving the outcomes outlined in this statement.
Under the proposed model, councils would set up the multi-council Water Organisation to operate as a separate organisation from the shareholding councils.
The shareholding arrangements will be negotiated and agreed upon as part of the transition and establishment process.
Background
On 15 August 2025, Council resolved to establish a multi-council Water Organisation (multi-council WO) with Western Bay of Plenty District Council (subject to due diligence) to deliver water services, from 1 July 2027.
Choosing a water services delivery model is our responsibility under the government’s new regulatory and legislative framework under Local Water Done Well through two significant pieces of legislation (the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024, and the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025).
The multi-council WO is designed to help councils get better access to funding for water infrastructure and deliver quality water services to the community at a lower cost (compared to other delivery arrangement options).
Watch a video from Mayor Drysdale
Our Water Services Delivery Plan
Under the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024, Council was required to submit a Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP).
The WSDP is a 10-year strategic document that sets out Tauranga’s approach to delivering water supply, wastewater, and stormwater services. It includes infrastructure assessments, financial forecasts, and an implementation plan for transitioning from in-house service delivery to a multi-council Water Organisation (multi-council WO).
The plan also looks at whether Council has enough funding and investment to support this transition.
Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) (4mb pdf)
The WSDP was accepted by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in November 2025.
What is happening now?
We have a Commitment Agreement with Western Bay of Plenty District Council, which enabled the due diligence period. We are currently progressing the implementation plan contained within the WSDP.
As a customer, you won’t notice any changes yet. Most work will happen in the background to ensure we’re ready to transition to a multi-council WO on 1 July 2027. In the lead up to that date the chief executive and board would look to communicate directly with customers.
Our priority remains providing affordable, quality services to residents and ratepayers.