Tiaki Wai - future water services for Upper Hutt
Tiaki Wai is responsible for the delivery of drinking water, wastewater and piped stormwater services across metropolitan Wellington, including Upper Hutt. Tiaki Wai is also responsible for maintaining, operating and improving the region’s water infrastructure and services.
Tiaki Wai is part of wider national water reform aimed at ensuring communities continue to receive safe, reliable and sustainable water services now and into the future.
The region’s water assets remain in public ownership and are not being sold.
Billing and payments - what water customers need to know
Will I still pay for water services through my rates?
No. From 1 July 2026, water services charges will no longer appear on Upper Hutt City Council rates invoices.
Instead, Tiaki Wai will send separate water service bills directly to property owners.
This is one of the biggest changes water customers will notice as part of the transition to Tiaki Wai.
When will I receive my first Tiaki Wai bill?
Property owners in Upper Hutt are expected to receive their first Tiaki Wai bill in late July or early August 2026.
The first payment will be due by 1 September 2026.
How often will bills be sent?
Most properties will receive a water services bill every three months.
This bill covers:
- drinking water
- wastewater
- piped stormwater services.
Will water charges be the same across the Wellington region?
Not immediately. In the first year of Tiaki Wai, water charges will largely reflect the existing pricing structures used by each council area. This means water customers in different parts of the Wellington region may pay different amounts for water services. Over time, Tiaki Wai intends to move toward a more consistent regional pricing approach. More information about water charging can be viewed on the Tiaki Wai website.
What if my property has a water meter?
Most residential properties in Upper Hutt do not currently have water meters.
Properties with existing water meters - generally commercial properties or some larger residential developments - will receive:
- one regular water services bill, and
- one separate water usage bill based on meter readings.
These bills may arrive at different times and will have different account numbers.
Will my existing rates direct debit transfer automatically to Tiaki Wai?
No. Any direct debit arrangement currently set up with Upper Hutt City Council for rates payments will not automatically transfer to Tiaki Wai.
If you want to pay Tiaki Wai bills by direct debit, you will need to set up a new direct debit arrangement with Tiaki Wai.
When will direct debit payments begin?
Direct debit payments cannot begin until Tiaki Wai issues its first invoices in late July or early August 2026.
No payments will be deducted before invoices are issued.
Water customers who set up direct debits in advance will receive confirmation of their arrangement once their first Tiaki Wai invoice has been generated.
What happens if I choose to pay in full on the due date?
Water customers who select the “pay in full on due date” direct debit option will have the total invoice amount automatically deducted on the invoice due date.
The first scheduled payment date is expected to be: 1 September 2026
Water customers will receive confirmation of:
- their direct debit arrangement
- the payment date
- the invoice amount to be deducted once their first Tiaki Wai invoice has been issued.
Can I spread payments weekly, fortnightly or monthly?
Yes. Water customers can choose to pay:
- weekly
- fortnightly
- monthly
- or in full on the invoice due date.
For water customers choosing weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments:
- Tiaki Wai will calculate regular instalments by evenly spreading water charges through to 30 June 2027
- the same payment amount will usually be deducted each payment cycle
- water customers may temporarily see a small overdue balance on their account during the year
- this does not need to be separately paid if direct debit payments are continuing as arranged.
Water customers will receive confirmation of:
- payment frequency
- payment amounts
- direct debit start dates after their first invoice has been issued.
Can I choose when my payments are deducted?
Yes. Water customers setting up weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debits may be able to request preferred payment timing, including:
- a preferred day of the week
- a preferred day of the month.
What payment options will be available?
Tiaki Wai bills can be paid by:
- direct debit
- online banking
- phone banking
- NZ Post “pay a bill” services.
Will Tiaki Wai account numbers be different from my rates account number?
Yes. Each property will receive a unique Tiaki Wai account number specifically for water services billing.
These account numbers will be different from:
- Upper Hutt City Council rates account numbers
- property valuation numbers
- existing council water meter references.
Using the correct Tiaki Wai account number when making payments will be important to ensure payments are allocated correctly.
Can residents set up direct debits before the first bill arrives?
Yes. Water customers can begin setting up direct debits before receiving their first invoice.
However:
- no payments will be deducted before invoices are issued
- final confirmation of payment arrangements will occur once the first invoice has been generated.
Further details, forms and payment instructions can be viewed on the Tiaki Wai website.
Are Upper Hutt's water assets being sold?
No. Water assets will remain in public ownership. The infrastructure will be owned by Tiaiki Wai, which is collectively owned by councils on behalf of their communities.
This includes drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets currently serving Upper Hutt water customers.
Why is this changing?
Councils across New Zealand are facing major challenges in funding and maintaining ageing water infrastructure.
The Wellington region needs significant long-term investment to:
- replace ageing pipes and infrastructure
- improve resilience and reliability
- meet stricter national water standards
- support future growth.
The new regional model is intended to provide greater financial capacity and a longer-term approach to planning and investment.
What does this mean for Upper Hutt water customers?
For most water customers, there will be no immediate change to day-to-day water services when Tiaki Wai begins operating on 1 July 2026.
Water will continue to be supplied and wastewater and stormwater services maintained across Upper Hutt.
Upper Hutt City Council will continue to represent the interests of Upper Hutt communities through the ownership and governance arrangements established for Tiaki Wai.
Will Upper Hutt City Council still have a say?
Yes. Upper Hutt City Council will be one of the joint owners of Tiaki Wai and will help oversee the organisation through regional governance arrangements.
What area will Tiaki Wai cover?
Tiaki Wai provides drinking water, wastewater and piped stormwater services across metropolitan Wellington, including:
- Upper Hutt
- Lower Hutt
- Porirua
- Wellington
- Greater Wellington regional infrastructure connections.
What happens to Wellington Water?
Tiaki Wai will absorb Wellington Water and continue delivering the services currently managed by Wellington Water.
How will Tiaki Wai pay for infrastructure upgrades?
Tiaki Wai will be able to borrow against water assets and collect revenue from water customers and developers to fund infrastructure investment and water services over time.
The region’s water infrastructure has an estimated replacement value of almost $18 billion.
Who will oversee Tiaki Wai?
Tiaki Wai is jointly owned by:
- Upper Hutt City Council
- Hutt City Council
- Porirua City Council
- Wellington City Council
- Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Mana whenua partners are:
- Ngāti Toa Rangatira
- Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika.
Tiaki Wai operates under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025.
Regulatory oversight is provided by:
What this means for Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt water customers rely on safe and reliable water infrastructure every day.
The establishment of Tiaki Wai is intended to support long-term investment in the pipes, treatment facilities and networks needed to serve current and future communities across the Wellington region.
A regional approach is expected to provide:
- greater financial flexibility for infrastructure investment
- coordinated planning across the metropolitan network
- continued public ownership of water assets
- a stronger long-term focus on resilience and service delivery.
Upper Hutt City Council continues working with regional partners to represent local community interests as Tiaki Wai is established.
Process for the first Statement of Expectations for Tiaki Wai
The Statement of Expectations is one of the key planning mechanisms that the shareholding councils and mana whenua will have to influence priorities and strategic direction for Tiaki Wai. This is because Tiaki Wai is required by legislation to give effect to the Statement of Expectations.
The Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 sets out a range of mandatory matters that the Statement of Expectations must address, including outcomes that the shareholders expect Tiaki Wai to achieve by delivering water services. The Statement of Expectations can also address other matters that are important to the partners, such as a requirement to undertake community or customer engagement, and the contents of that engagement.
The preparation of the Statement of Expectations involves several process steps, which are required to be published on either one or all of the Shareholding Councils websites.
For the Tiaki Wai Statement of Expectations, the Shareholding Councils have agreed the following process:
- The preparation of a draft Statement of Expectations will involve input from across all Shareholding Councils, the establishment team and iwi/mana whenua partners.
- The draft Statement of Expectations will be informed by principles developed and agreed by the Shareholding Councils.
- The draft Statement of Expectations will be provided to the Board of Tiaki Wai in early November, to provide the Board with opportunity to comment.
- Once comments have been received from the Board of Tiaki Wai, the draft Statement of Expectations will be refined and then presented to the Partners Committee for consideration.
- The Partners Committee will adopt the final Statement of Expectations and provide it to Tiaki Wai prior to 1 January 2026.
Find out more
For more detailed information about Tiaki Wai, including transition planning, billing information and additional FAQs, visit: