Tiaki Wai Metro Water Ltd is a council-controlled organisation that will be responsible for delivering drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services in the Wellington Region. It is the successor to Wellington Water and is expected to formally come into existence on 1 July 2026. [1] Tiaki Wai is a partnership between the five Wellington local government bodies (Wellington City Council, Porirua City Council, Lower Hutt City Council, Upper Hutt City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council) [2] and two Māori mana whenua iwi (tribes) Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika. [1]
Tiaka Wai translates from the Māori language as "carers of water." This reflects its mission statement of delivering "safe, reliable, environmentally and financially sustainable water services in a way that restores te mana o te wai." The name Tiaka Wai was gifted by the two mana whenua Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika. [1]
Tiaki Wai will be responsible for delivering drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services in the Wellington Region and assumes the functions and responsibilities of Wellington Water. is headed by a four-member board of directors consisting of chair Will Peet, former Watercare Services CEO Jon Lamonte, Elena Trout and Adrian Wimmers. [1]
In late August 2025, the New Zealand Parliament passed legislation requiring local councils to develop water services delivery plans over the next 12 months as part of the Sixth National Government's Local Water Done Well programme. [3] Local Water Done Well was the National-led government's policy to address New Zealand's water infrastructural challenges. The policy seeks to centre local ownership and decision-making over the delivery of water services while meeting economic, environmental and water quality regulatory requirements. [4] Local Water Done Well replaced the Sixth Labour Government's controversial Three Waters programme. [5]
In late June 2025, the Upper Hutt, Porirua, Lower Hutt, Wellington City Councils and the Greater Wellington Regional Council announced that Wellington Water would be replaced by a new water services entity that would own and manage the various councils' water infrastructure. The new entity would generate its own income independent of council funding and manage its own debts. This new entity is expected to come into existence on 1 July 2026. [6]
Tiaki Wai and its board of directors were formally announced by the Wellington City Council on 30 October 2025. The WCC also confirmed that the new entity would be a partnership between the Wellington Regional local government bodies and the Māori iwi Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika. [1] In early February 2026, Radio New Zealand reported that under the new Tiaki Wai framework, Wellington regional ratepayers would receive two set of water bills from Tiaki Wai and their district council. [2]