Western Bay of Plenty District Council says it is focused on achieving the best outcome for everyone as it moves toward a final decision on whether to establish a joint Water Organisation with Tauranga City Council under Local Water Done Well.
Councillors unanimously agreed at Council’s 24 March meeting that while due‑diligence work is progressing well, decisions on a Water Organisation must stay focused on water services only.
This follows Tauranga City Council's proposal that would link non‑water matters - such as the funding of recreation and leisure facilities, libraries, community facilities, parks, and other growth‑related infrastructure - to decisions that are meant to be about drinking water, wastewater and stormwater only and may impact on our ratepayers in the rates they pay.
“This decision is about water services. Nothing more,” says Western Bay Mayor James Denyer.
“I have no problem us paying our fair share for directly provided infrastructure, but it is not appropriate to use the connection of water to leverage money from Western Bay ratepayers for things with nothing to do with waters.
“I hope to resolve these issues through negotiations in good faith. I want to come to a solution that is best for our sub-region, for our people combined.”
Both councils agreed in 2025 - through Water Services Delivery Plans submitted to and later accepted by the Department of Internal Affairs, and through their Commitment Agreement - to explore a joint approach in good faith under Local Water Done Well.
“This due‑diligence phase is intended to stress‑test risks, costs and assumptions within that agreed framework,” says Mayor James.
“It is not about introducing new requirements outside scope as a condition of proceeding.”
Mayor James emphasises that Western Bay’s position should not be read as a reluctance to engage on broader cross‑boundary matters, but that non‑water issues are best progressed through separate, appropriate council‑to‑council processes, outside the Water Organisation establishment programme.
“Our responsibility is to stand up for Western Bay communities.
“We cannot support approaches that leave our ratepayers carrying unfair cost, open‑ended risk, or uncertainty for issues that can and should be resolved separately between councils.”
Western Bay’s position is that a Water Organisation is intended to be board‑led and operationally independent, making operational decisions based on service needs, capacity and efficient system planning. This reflects the intent of the Water Services Act 2025, which deliberately separates governance oversight from day‑to‑day operational decision‑making.
“A Water Organisation is meant to operate as a single, integrated provider across its service area,” says Mayor James.
Council will make a final decision on whether to proceed with establishing a joint water organisation at its 2 April meeting.
Further information, including the agendas for the 2 April meeting
once published, is available at:
Local Water Done
Well - Western Bay of Plenty District Council
