Waikato District Council has today signed the transfer agreement with IAWAI, the new publicly owned water company formed with Hamilton City Council and in partnership with Waikato-Tainui, to deliver water and wastewater services to more than 220,000 residents across the councils.
Today’s agreement confirms the transfer of Waikato District Council’s water and wastewater infrastructure – treatment plants, reservoirs, pumps stations, pipes, staff, resources and more to IAWAI.
Mayor Aksel Bech says today’s unanimous agreement signals council’s commitment to IAWAI.
“It marks the beginning of a new era for how drinking water and wastewater services will be delivered in the region, and the benefits that working together will bring to the communities we serve.”
“IAWAI is the first arrangement of its kind in New Zealand. By working together at a larger scale, we can invest in the infrastructure our communities need while keeping costs as low as possible for households.”
Over the next decade IAWAI is expected to invest more than $3 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure to support growing communities and meet environmental standards.
“By planning water infrastructure across the wider region, we can deliver major projects more efficiently and reduce the pressure on ratepayers compared with councils trying to do this alone,” says Mayor Aksel.
Protecting the Waikato River sits at the centre of the IAWAI’s purpose.
“The awa is central to the wellbeing of our communities,” says Mayor Aksel. “As a shareholding council in IAWAI, this ensures future investment in water infrastructure also supports the long-term health of the Waikato River.”
The transfer agreement also provides certainty for Waikato District Council’s water teams preparing for the transition.
“Signing this agreement means the work to establish IAWAI can now move forward with confidence, ensuring we are ready for operations to begin on 1 July,” Mayor Aksel said.
IAWAI’s draft Water Services Strategy shows that bringing our water services together will reduce the scale of expected water charge increases compared with councils continuing to deliver services alone.
For Waikato District households, forecast water charges are now under half of what was anticipated with fixed drinking water and wastewater charges proposed to increase $142 per year per connected household for the coming year. This compares favourably to the $364 previously projected under the standalone council model for the 2026/27 rating year.
“No increase is welcome but this is a meaningful saving for our communities now – with more efficiencies to be gained over time,” says Mayor Aksel.
The Transfer Agreement between Hamilton City Council and IAWAI will be discussed at their council meeting tomorrow, Thursday 12 March.
Formal agreement from both councils would enable IAWAI to be fully operational from 1 July 2026.
