For business
What businesses needs to know
From 1 July, Tiaki Wai takes over responsibility for water services across Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley. There should be no disruption to your operations, but these are the things you need to know:
Billing:
- Businesses will receive a separate bill for water services, instead of paying through council rates as you currently do.
- Businesses with a water meter will also receive a water usage bill from Tiaki Wai, instead of from council.
Contact points:
- For faults and outages, you will contact Tiaki Wai directly instead of your council.
- For trade waste from 1 July, contact the Tiaki Wai Trade Waste team by email at tradewaste@tiakiwai.co.nz.
- For information about new connections to the water supply, stormwater and wastewater networks from 1 July contact land.development@tiakiwai.co.nz
Water services charges for 2026/27
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.
Go to our Billing page to find out more about water services charges.
Water usage charges for 2026/27
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.
Tradewaste
For businesses with trade waste consents or monitored discharges:
- Councils have delegated the administration and enforcement of trade waste to Tiaki Wai but there are no significant changes to the management of trade waste on 1 July.
- Councils will continue to invoice for trade waste fees and charges on behalf of Tiaki Wai for an interim period.
- Over the next 12 months, Tiaki Wai will gradually align inspections and processes across council areas, making things simpler and more consistent for businesses.
- For trade waste, you will continue to contact the same people as now. If you don’t have a current contact, from 1 July email tradewaste@tiakiwai.co.nz. If you’re in Lower Hutt or Upper Hutt, the trade waste team is moving to Tiaki Wai so contact them via tradewaste@tiakiwai.co.nz.
Find out more in the FAQs below.
Water supply, stormwater and wastewater connections
For developers, commercial landlords, builders, and businesses needing new or upgraded water, wastewater, or stormwater connections:
- From 1 July, there will be no significant changes for customers to how these water service connections are managed.
- There are some minor changes to forms and to application fees to make them more consistent across council areas.
- Application forms will be available on council websites and on the new connections page on the Tiaki Wai website.
- Councils will receive payments and/or invoice on behalf of Tiaki Wai.
- For connection enquiries, from 1 July please contact Land.Development@tiakiwai.co.nz
Find out more in the FAQs below.
General questions
Will the delivery of water services change on 1 July?
The same people are operating the network — field crews, inspectors, planners, and customer teams — have moved 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.
How will my charges be calculated?
What long term improvements can businesses expect?
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.
We have multiple properties across the Wellington region; can our invoices be consolidated?
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.
Trade waste questions
Who regulates trade waste moving forwards?
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.
Will trade waste charges change?
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.
New connections questions
Who makes decisions about water supply, stormwater and wastewater connections?
Tiaki Wai will continue to approve any water service connections, considering network capacity, asset protection and servicing requirements.
Are connection processes changing on 1 July?
There will be minimal changes to customers for the first year.
Will connection charges change?
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.
How will I know if my project is afffected by capacity constraints?
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.
What improvements will the new regional model bring over time?
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.