Statement of Expectations sets direction for Central Districts Water

Agreed by Horowhenua District Council, Palmerston North City Council, Rangitīkei District Council and Nga Tapūwae o Hau through the Joint Shareholders’ Committee, the Statement will guide Central Districts Water (CDW) through its establishment phase and once it begins delivering water services on 1 July 2027.

At its core, the Statement requires CDW to provide affordable, efficient, safe and reliable water services, while planning for the long term and remaining accountable and connected to the communities it serves.

It requires a long-term and affordable approach to infrastructure investment, aligned with council growth plans and iwi and hapū planning documents. It also sets expectations for strong governance and financial management, open communication and responsive customer service, resilient services, improved environmental outcomes and meaningful involvement of councils, mana whenua, iwi and hapū in planning and delivery.

While CDW will operate across a larger service area, the Statement recognises that communities , iwi and hapū, have different circumstances, priorities, relationships and responsibilities and these need to be built into the way CDW operates from the outset.

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden says one of the strengths of the Statement is its focus on both affordability today and investment for future generations.

“Water infrastructure requires decisions that look well beyond a single annual plan or council term. CDW needs to take a long-term approach while keeping affordability and value for money front and centre. That means being upfront about investment, managing risks well and making sure the capital programme supports the growth and environmental outcomes our communities need.”

Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith says signing the Statement gives the CDW Board a clear understanding of what is expected.

“We’ve been determined from the outset that Central Districts Water should be built through true partnership, with our communities and their long-term interests at the centre of decision-making. There are no side chats, everyone is at the table, the rules of engagement are clear and there has been real unity.

“This Statement gives us a common direction: safe and reliable services, value for money, good long-term planning and an organisation that remains connected to the communities it serves.”

Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson says the partnership has been strengthened by recognising that communities across the service area are different.

“Rangitīkei is different from Palmerston North and different again from Horowhenua. We have rural communities, smaller towns and different infrastructure challenges, so retaining that local understanding is incredibly important to us.What has worked well through this process is that we haven’t tried to pretend every community is the same. The Statement gives CDW a clear expectation to deliver the benefits of working regionally while keeping a strong local focus.”

Nga Tapūwae o Hau representative Danielle Harris says the Statement provides a crucial foundation for an enduring partnership between CDW and mana whenua, iwi and hapū across the three districts.

“Wai is not simply infrastructure. It carries responsibilities and relationships that have endured for generations.What is significant is that these expectations have been agreed collectively. There is a shared understanding that relationships with mana whenua, iwi and hapū are part of the fabric of how CDW thinks, plans, invests and makes decisions from the beginning.That gives us an honourable starting point for a meaningful relationship built on trust, where local knowledge, tikanga and the different circumstances of iwi and hapū across the rohe are understood, respected and given effect to. We will not be judged by what we have done today, but by what the state of wai is in centuries to come.”

Central Districts Water Chair Hon Steve Maharey says the Statement gives the Board and establishment team clear priorities as they build the organisation.

“This document tells us very clearly what our shareholders and partners expect from us. Success will not be measured simply by whether water continues to come out of the tap, or goes down the drain. Our job is to gain the benefits of working together at scale without losing sight of the different communities, relationships and priorities within the area we serve. Having our partners aligned on those expectations gives us clear direction as we work towards 1 July 2027.”

The full Statement of Expectations can be viewed at www.centraldistrictswater.co.nz/expectations.

Communities can stay up to date through the CDW website, social media channels and an email newsletter launching in the coming months.

There will also be opportunities for people to learn more and provide feedback, including on the Water Services Strategy, as CDW prepares to begin operating on 1 July 2027.

Until then, the three councils remain responsible for water services, and service requests or concerns should continue to be directed to the relevant council.