Businesses in Wellington, Porirua and Hutt Valley should experience a smooth transition to Tiaki Wai, with no disruption to operations.
Billing:
Contact points:
Water services will now be billed separately from council rates. For the first year, they will be calculated using largely the same pricing mechanisms that councils already use.
Find out more about water services charges here.
For businesses with a water meter, councils and Wellington Water are aiming to complete as many meter readings as possible before 1 July. From that date, water services billing will move to Tiaki Wai.
Councils will prioritise automated meters and higher volume customers for readings close to 30 June. However, not all meters will be able to be read in time. If your meter cannot be read, your last council bill (issued on or around 30 June) will be based on an estimate. Your next actual meter reading will then come from Tiaki Wai on your normal reading cycle.
For businesses with trade waste consents or monitored discharges:
For developers, commercial landlords, builders, and businesses needing new or upgraded water, wastewater, or stormwater connections:
Find out more in the FAQs below.
The people who operate the network today — field crews, inspectors, planners, and customer teams — are moving across to Tiaki Wai, ensuring day-to-day services continue. In the first year, Tiaki Wai is focused on stability, continuity, and clear communication while the organisation is established.
Over time, Tiaki Wai will invest in renewing ageing pipes, improving stormwater performance and reducing leaks and service failures. These improvements will be sequenced and communicated clearly.
Initially, councils will provide interim support for billing until Tiaki Wai sets up new systems that do not currently exist in Wellington Water. This means that consolidated invoices won’t be possible in the near future; but it is something we will consider as we develop the billing system.
Councils remain responsible for setting bylaws but have delegated the administration and enforcement of bylaws, including those that relate to trade waste, to Tiaki Wai.
Fees and charges for trade waste are set out in the Tiaki Wai Pricing Policy (page 24). Volumetric trade waste charges remain unchanged, with some minor adjustments to other fees. Councils will bill on behalf of Tiaki Wai for an interim period and any future changes to the Pricing Policy will be consulted on. Who do I contact if I have a trade waste issue?
Contact Tiaki Wai Trade Waste team by email at tradewaste@tiakiwai.co.nz.
Contact the Tiaki Wai Trade Waste team by email at tradewaste@tiakiwai.co.nz.
Tiaki Wai will continue to approve any water service connections, considering network capacity, asset protection and servicing requirements.
There will be minimal changes to customers for the first year.
An application fee will continue to apply. Minor changes are being made in 2026/27 to standardise fees across the region. All fees and charges are set out in the Tiaki Wai Pricing Policy.
Installation costs will continue to be charged at cost, paid directly to approved contractors.
Tiaki Wai is building a regional view of network capacity. Over time, businesses will receive clearer, more consistent capacity assessments to support planning and investment decisions.
Over time, Tiaki Wai will move to a single model for new water, wastewater, and stormwater connections. This will include consistent processes, engineering standards, a shared inspectorate and integrated data and systems. For businesses, this means clearer rules, faster approvals, less duplication and better visibility of network capacity and constraints.