At the first full council meeting of Upper Hutt City Council on 10 December 2025, residents demonstrated the strength of their concern over the proposed transfer of our city’s water assets to Tiaki Wai Metro Water Limited.  In a positive start to the new council term, all registered submitters were given the opportunity to speak beyond the usual 30-minute limit, reflecting a genuine commitment to community engagement.

Upper Hutt’s water assets include our water treatment plants, reservoirs, pumping stations, pipe networks, wastewater treatment facilities, and stormwater systems — infrastructure that has been built, maintained, and upgraded by our community over many decades. Understanding what is being transferred is essential for residents to appreciate the value and significance of these decisions.

Residents felt strongly that the transition to a regional water entity must be carefully managed. Submissions were driven by a deep sense of responsibility to protect local assets, ensure fair governance, and maintain transparency for ratepayers.  This was not a casual concern: residents wanted to ensure that Upper Hutt’s infrastructure, financial contributions, and community interests are fully recognised and safeguarded in the new arrangement.

Several residents, including myself, highlighted pressing issues:

• Asset valuation timing – decisions are being made without full clarity on the monetary value of Upper Hutt’s water infrastructure.
• Recognition of past investment – uncertainty about how our prior infrastructure upgrades influence governance weight and ownership share.
• Debt transfer – concerns that pooling water-related debt could unfairly burden Upper Hutt if governance weighting does not match financial contributions.
• Transparency for ratepayers – mandatory public release of asset valuations, debt schedules, and ownership calculations is needed.

Other residents raised important points regarding governance, environmental stewardship, water conservation, and public consultation.  Their submissions reinforced that the Upper Hutt community is deeply invested in the future of our water services and expects clarity, accountability, and protection of local assets.

Despite these concerns, the council proceeded to adopt the founding documents for Tiaki Wai Metro Water Limited without deferring for unanswered questions.  I want to commend Councillors Angela McLeod, Daniel Welch, and Hellen Swales, who opposed the adoption, standing up for caution and transparency on behalf of our community.

Some council officials suggested that central government could step in if adoption was delayed, creating a sense of urgency.  While procedural realities exist, it is essential that such pressure does not override the community’s right to have all questions answered before decisions affecting our water assets are made.

Upper Hutt residents deserve transparency, careful consideration, and assurance that our water assets are managed fairly.  I have requested that my full submission be tabled with the official council meeting minutes, ensuring it is publicly accessible and a matter of record.

A “thank you” to Rachel Tukaki Kingi for sending this letter to The Upper Hutt Connection.

18/12/25