From this week, property owners in the Wellington region will start receiving separate bills for water services and rates –– one from Tiaki Wai, the region’s new water services provider, and one from their local council, for rates excluding water services.

Tiaki Wai is now responsible for the water networks serving around 155,000 homes and businesses across Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.

“Every day, pipes across the Wellington region’s water network deliver safe drinking water, remove wastewater from sinks and toilets, and take stormwater away from downpipes, streets and other public areas. Your Tiaki Wai bill covers the cost of these essential water services,” says Tiaki Wai Chief Customer Officer Liza Gunn.

Water services charges will vary from property to property, in the same way council rates bills vary, and will be billed every three months, at the same time as the separate council rates bill.

“Every burst pipe or wastewater overflow reminds us that after decades of underinvestment, we need to fix our ageing water networks. Separate water services charges contribute to Tiaki Wai’s ability to tackle some big problems and make the right investment decisions for the whole region. Improvements will take time, but change is underway.

“We understand that people in the Wellington region are facing cost of living challenges, and anyone who needs support can get in touch with us on 0800 TIAKI WAI (0800 842 549) or online through www.tiakiwai.co.nz,” says Ms Gunn.

Property owners in Wellington City, Hutt City and Upper Hutt City will start receiving Tiaki Wai bills from this week and those in Porirua City from next week.

The first separate Tiaki Wai water services bill is due for payment across the region on 1 September 2026. Property owners can pay by direct debit, online or phone banking, or over the counter at NZ Post stores offering the ‘pay a bill’ service. Lower Hutt property owners can use the Payble online platform.

For the first year of separate Tiaki Wai water services bills, a property’s bill will be calculated using a mix of rateable capital value (CV) and fixed charges, similar to the mix each council had been using. In the long term, Tiaki Wai aims to make the way the bill is calculated consistent across all four council areas and to install residential water meters, so the bill reflects usage.

This coming year, Tiaki Wai will need to invest around $800 million. About half will go into keeping essential water services working, and the other half into replacing and upgrading aging pipes and other critical assets.

For more on separate Tiaki Wai water services billing, go to www.tiakiwai.co.nz/billing.

A “thank you” to Tiaki Wai for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

28/07/26