Wellington’s metropolitan councils have approved the paperwork to hand over the region’s water infrastructure and more than $1 billion of associated debt to their new water provider, Tiaki Wai.
The councils at Wellington City, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua and the Greater Wellington Regional Council passed the written transfer agreements to join Tiaki Wai starting July, during respective meetings throughout May.
But some councillors voiced concerns about water’s future affordability, as council officials warned of potential Crown intervention or legal action if the transfer falls through.
Upper Hutt councillor Angela McLeod was one of four councillors against the transfer at a council meeting last week, out of the belief that Tiaki Wai could possibly be “Wellington Water on steroids”.
However, her colleague Matt Carey supported the transfer: “Government have recognised it, voters have recognised that over multiple years that water investment in terms of council delivery just follows election cycles and it’s not good enough.”
