Water connection starting at around $7 Per day/$50 Per Week!

Water connection starting at around $7 Per day/$50 Per Week!

The Upper Hutt Connection

NOTE: There is the final Let’s Korero event tonight (Tuesday 22nd of April) live by Upper Hutt City Council on Facebook. 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/1285312002558902

It is time for Councils to be upfront over the Scott report and the indicative cost of $7 PER DAY / $50 PER WEEK for water per household in the near future.

Our community was hit hard over the Rates increase in 2024. It hit rate payers/renters/businesses and our Community. We are concerned that indicative Water Done Well

Costs for our community are not being shared transparently.

As with the rates we believe people may again be hit from left field with massive cost increases and not have had time to budget for these costs.

We have been to quite a few “Annual Plan” meetings and spoken to people where a common theme is that people would like to know what the indicative prices would/could be.

The answers we have heard amount to, no we don’t have that information at present.

We believe there is a better understanding known by councils than they are sharing.

We are going to share a few, we think, relevant pieces of information we have taken from the Oct 2024 Scott Consulting report. If you want to know more, we have linked the report or alternatively we have 2 council members who sit on the water committees who you can direct questions too. (Wayne Guppy and Dylan Bentley)

  1. Average price per connection: https://c29daf59-758a-4029-be4e-3a751893ecad.usrfiles.com/ugd/c29daf_4001563263194a5587662b2eda916619.pdf#page=76
  • Currently the average price per connection across the Wellington Region in 2024 is $1,711. ($32.90 per week)
  • Could be up to twice current prices or a peak of about $3,000 to $4,000. ($57.70- $76.90 per week)
  • Sustainable price is estimated at about $2,596 ($49.90 per week)
  • Price rises could be up to 9% per annum on average
  • What are the actual lending limits for the new Water Organisation?

2. What are the actual lending limits for the new Water Organisation?: https://c29daf59-758a-4029-be4e-3a751893ecad.usrfiles.com/ugd/c29daf_4001563263194a5587662b2eda916619.pdf#page=78

  • Up to a level equivalent to 500% of operating revenues, however depending on operational funds this could be less.

3. With Upper Hutt Council handing over water assets to the new CCO (Council Controlled Organisation) is any associated debt also being handed to the new CCO?: https://c29daf59-758a-4029-be4e-3a751893ecad.usrfiles.com/ugd/c29daf_4001563263194a5587662b2eda916619.pdf#page=78

  • It has been assumed that the CCO will inherit about $2.3 billion of debt in 2027 from the councils. This is because when water assets transfer, so would the associated revenue collection powers and associated debt.

As Reference


Here is what we have found on how it works in Auckland, probably closely aligns with how it might work down here also.

https://www.watercare.co.nz/residents/accounts/how-residential-charges-work

https://www.watercare.co.nz/landlords-and-property-managers/accounts/our-charges

Community Information Page –  www.nzempowered.com/ci

Community Information Sheet – https://1drv.ms/b/s!AiRvWJcR8iJcjKMsz974jVpGJhUGcg?e=zZ55E2

A “thank you” to NZ Empowered for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

14/04/25