Future of Horowhenua water services out for consultation

Thursday, 6 March 2025

Horowhenua residents will soon get their chance to have a say about the future of the district’s water services.

The Horowhenua District Council on Wednesday adopted its Local Water Done Well consultation document to go out for public feedback.

Under the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation, councils have to decide what neighbouring councils to work with to manage their water services.

Horowhenua councillors voted to endorse their preferred option of a water services organisation jointly owned by the Horowhenua, Palmerston North, Manawatū and Kāpiti Coast councils.

Community consultation runs from Monday until April 10.

The other two options were a water services organisation jointly owned by all willing councils from the Manawatū-Whanganui and Kāpiti regions, or the status quo.

Councillors had earlier voted to remove the option of a joint water services arrangement with the Kāpiti Coast District Council because it was seen as no longer practicable.

Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden said it was a milestone to get to this point as it had been a long and arduous journey.

“We’ve been considering Three Waters [reforms] since 2018, so to finally get this to where we can put an option to our community is really a fantastic achievement.

“At times it felt like we were operating in a maze without the lights on. There have also been lots of endings we could have had.”

He said the council was asking a lot of community members as he wasn’t sure they understood the magnitude of what was being consulted on.

“We have a huge job to make sure they know and understand what is in front of them. This is a generational decision.

“It may not be the end of it, and there may be further decisions down the track.”

Under option one, in which the Horowhenua, Palmerston North, Manawatū and Kāpiti Coast councils would work together, the average Horowhenua household would pay $735 less per year for water services by 2027-28.

This option was likely to have the most benefits relating to economies of scale.

For option two, involving all willing councils in the Manawatū-Whanganui and Kapiti regions, the cost would depend on the combination of councils.

Under option three, the status quo of the council continuing to deliver the district’s water services, the average Horowhenua household would pay $735 more per year for water services delivery by 2027-28.

This option was likely to become more economically challenging in the future.

The new legislation allowed water services organisations to borrow more money to fund infrastructure projects than councils could individually.

Horowhenua needed to invest $284 million on water projects in the next 10 years, with another $340m anticipated for the following 20 years.

It spent an average of $6m for maintenance and supply per year.