Waitaki District Council rejoins Southern Waters

Published on 14 April 2026

The future of water in the Waitaki District will be shared with neighbouring Councils, following today’s decision to approve the foundation documents of Southern Waters.

The Shareholders Agreement, Constitution and Commitment Agreement were agreed to at today’s Extraordinary Meeting of Council.

Mayor Mel Tavendale and Waihemo Councillor Frans Schlack have been appointed to the Stakeholders’ Representative Group (SRG). Its duties include appointing and removing directors, setting shareholder expectations and monitoring the Board's performance.

The SRG is made up of two representatives from each shareholding Council, as well as two mana whenua representatives and one rural representative who have yet to be named and do not have any shareholding in Southern Waters.

Southern Waters will be a Joint Council Controlled Organisation formed as a result of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms.

Waitaki District Council was a member of the group of Councils that make up Southern Waters until opting out in July 2025. It submitted an in-house Water Services Delivery Plan, but this was rejected by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in October 2025.

After investigating joint-service delivery models, Waitaki District Council resolved to rejoin Southern Waters in February 2026 and their application to rejoin was approved by Gore District Council, Central Otago District Council and Clutha District Council in March and April 2026.

The next steps will be to establish the transition agreement of assets and staff to Southern Waters, which will begin shortly, with a view to water services transferring to the new company on 1 July 2027.

Waitaki District Council will be submitting a new Water Services Delivery Plan to reflect this decision, as required by the DIA, before the 30 June 2026 deadline.

ENDS

media@waitaki.govt.nz