Central Districts Water
Central Districts Water is a council-controlled organisation being established by Horowhenua District Council, Palmerston North City Council, and Rangitīkei District Council to deliver drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services across the three districts.
The organisation will be responsible for managing, maintaining, and investing in water infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable services for communities now and into the future.
Central Districts Water is expected to become operational in July 2027, with partner councils continuing to manage their own water services until then. Once operational, each council will retain ownership as shareholders of Central Districts Water.
To learn more about the new organisation, progress and news updates visit the Central Districts Water website.
Joint Shareholder Committee - Central District Waters
This is a joint committee of Horowhenua District, Rangitīkei District and Palmerston North City Councils and Ngā Tapuwae o Hau, to meet, discuss and coordinate on issues related to Central Districts Water.
How we got here
The Joint Shareholders’ Committee that represents the three councils and Ngā Tapuwae o Hau agreed a Statement of Expectations for CDW.
The Statement of Expectations sets out what the Shareholders’ Committee expects from CDW as the organisation is established and once it begins delivering water services.
Central Districts Water has appointed Chris Dyhrberg as its founding Chief Executive, marking a significant milestone as the new organisation moves closer to operating in a year's time.
The Central Districts Water website is now live www.centraldistrictswater.co.nz, providing a single source of information for communities across all three districts. Social media channels are also up and running.
Work continues on engagement planning, stakeholder mapping, and communications approaches to support the Board and the establishment programme.
Horowhenua District Council, Palmerston North City Council, Rangitīkei District Council and Ngā Tapuwae o Hau have taken another significant step toward establishing Central Districts Water, confirming the appointment of an experienced independent board to govern the new organisation.
Horowhenua District Council, Palmerston North City Council and Rangitīkei District Council have appointed their representatives to the Central Districts Water shareholders committee, marking an important step in establishing local oversight of the new water services entity.
Central Districts Water governance framework reinforces local control
Horowhenua District Council, Palmerston North City Council and Rangitīkei District Council have taken a major step toward establishing Central Districts Water, confirming the governance framework that will ensure water services continue to be locally overseen, locally managed and locally accountable.
In November 2025, the Government approved the partnership’s joint Water Services Delivery Plan, and the entity announced its new name: Central Districts Water.
The plan linked above sets out how drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services will be delivered in the future, and outlines the pathway to establishing a jointly owned Water Services Council Controlled Organisation - part of the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy.
Rangitīkei District Council adopted a joint water services delivery plan (WSDP) in August 2025, confirming our partnership with Horowhenua District Council and Palmerston North City Council.
